Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Eb, Ebb-, v. [ME. ebbe(n, OE. ebbian.]

1. Of the sea: To recede from high tide. 1375 Barb. xvii. 425.
Quhen the se wes ebbit sa, That men all dry till hir mycht ga c1420 Wynt. v. 916 (C).
That se … Oyssit ilk ȝhere til eb awaye Fra the kyrk a gret spasse Ib. 927 (W).
Fra none of his evin beforne … The se standis ebbit c1515 Asl. MS. I. 160/28.
Thar is sum rever of pondes that neuer ebbis nor flowis as dois the occeane c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 17.
Quhill the Greik sie flowis and ebbis, Telȝouris will nevir be trew 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxiv.
Als sone as the see ebbis, the fische ar tane dry in the crelis 1597 Prestwick B. Rec. 83.
As the bosum of the sie flowis & ebbis to the landis ?1549 Monro W. Isles 14.
Quhair this strype enteris into the sea thair is ane mile braid of sandis, quhilk ebbis ane mile

2. Of a vessel: To ground (or be grounded) at low tide. 1375 Barb. xvii. 421.
So lang abaid thai fechtand still Quhill that scho ebbit on the ground 1535 Stewart 47343.
Thair shippis … drevin vpoun the land, Quhair tha wer ebbit on ane sinkand sand 1667 Highland P. II. 46.
The nixt morning … being ebb sea and thair boats all ebbed