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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

About, adv. and prep. Also: abut(e, aboute, abowt(e. [ME. abute, aboute (13th c.), abuten, late OE. abútan, for earlier onbútan, f. on on, in, bútan without, outside.]

1. adv. With circular motion.c1400 Troy-bk. i. 500 (as the wheill about is wryde). 1456 Hay I. 119/13 (as the dure turnis about apon the herre). 1513 Doug. vii. vi. 92 (the round tap rynnys about, abowt, in cirkill round). a1540 Freiris Berw. 346 M. (he turnit him ewin about).

b. Round or near some point or place taken as a centre; here and there.1375 Barb. iii. 411 (it wes fer about to ga). c1420 Wynt. i. 211 (he made tentys to be borne abowte). 1478 Acta Aud. 83/2 (of vther burowis nixt about). a1500 Bk. Chess 2122 (with sex drauchtis gois he all about). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxi. 12 (trewth gois on his fute about). a1540 Freiris Berw. 232 (abowt he went vnto the vdir syd). a1578 Pitsc. II. 239/31 (the Devill gois about … ).

c. In various directions from a centre.?1438 Alex. iii. 8011 (the king about luket). 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 113 (vyssyand al about). c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 161 (luke best about, quhen thow art hiest).

2. On all or various sides; in all directions.1375 Barb. ix. 706 (he vmbeset it all about); xi. 585. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1313 (stratly closyd all abowte); vii. 52 (all wode abowt). 1423 Reg. Great S. 11/2 (uthir stedis on four half about). a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 36 (I beikit me about). 1492 Treas. Acc. I. 200 (to bordour a spwne abowte). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 134 (in Karrik land abowt). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1369 (of pyne tre maid, bound weill about). a1578 Pitsc. II. 102/12 (at Leyth and all round aboute).

3. All round a company or number of persons; in turn.a1500 Rauf C. 215 (thay drank dreichlie about). 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. 83 (pay his wolkly penny, as it cummys about). 1513 Doug. i. xi. 91 (al the nobillis drank abowt). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 167/7 (ilk ane our nicht about); 209/20 (let vs drink about). 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 9 (ilk ane thair cours about). 1600-1610 Melvill 78 (everie man about gaiff his not thairof).

4. prep. About, around (in space).a 1350 Facs. Nat. MSS. ii. 14 (in circuitu, abute thaim). 1375 Barb. vi. 528 (about ane hill); vii. 269 (about the hous); etc. a1400 Leg. S. i. 707 (abowt sanct Petir). c1420 Wynt. ii. 32 (abowte a cyté). c1450-2 Howlat 477 (about his hals). c1475 Wall. v. 22 (about the park). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxii. 29 (abowt the waist). 1513 Doug. i. ix. 12 (the clowd abowt thame). Id. K. Hart 377 (about the bed). 15.. Clar. i. 151 (about hir arme.). 1578 Edinb. Test. VI. 282 (ane kow calf to be brocht vp about the hous). 1583 Misc. Spald. C. V. 55 (abut the compass).

b. In verse placed after the noun. c1420 Wynt. i. 147; etc.
All Ethiop it rynnys abowt a1500 Rauf C. 34.
Quhair na body was him about c1475 Wall. i. 224.
All his men that semblyt him about c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 113; etc.
Ersche men so gadderit him abowt 1513 Doug. i. ix. 52.
Quhil sonnys schaddow circlys hillis about

5. About, near (in time).1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2 (aboute the xiiij day of Marz). a1400 Leg. S. xxxix. 245 (a-but midnycht). c1420 Wynt. iv. 2548 (abowte the hundyr day).

6. Concerning, regarding.c1420 Wynt. v. 3130 (dyssentyowne abowte the successyowne).

7. Comb. about-bringing, bringing round. 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 345.
For the about bringing of the quhelis fra Lundoris be see gait