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

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

Furth, adv. Also: fwrthe, furthe, furtht, furhtt, furght, furch(t; fourth(e, fourtht, foourth, foorth. [ME. furthe, furth (a 1400), occas. var. of forth(e, OE. forþ.]

1. With verbs of motion: a. Forth, forward, onward. 1375 Barb. v. 249.
Thou sall pas furth with my blessing Ib. xvi. 287.
How scho furth suld caryit be Ib. xvii. 680.
Thai cryit hei … , ‘furth to the wall’ a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 563.
The emperoure, … send thame furth on thare way c1420 Wynt. ii. 749.
He tuke wpe sayle, and furth he past Ib. viii. 7019.
Furth on hors rycht fast rydand a1500 Henr. Fab. 185.
With that scho tuke hir leif & furth can ga c1475 Wall. ix. 718.
The cartaris … callyt furth the cartis a1500 Bk. Chess 2156.
Richt furth he gois no thing anguler c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 35.
Thow ma … consydder That ane blynde man is led furth be ane uther 1535 Stewart 27078.
Furth in the feild he raid 1549 Compl. 159/27.
The ȝong partan vald nocht gang euyn furtht 1567 Sat. P. vii. 50.
To se the Quene furth rydant on the plaine 1585 James VI Ess. 39.
Then follow furth … that way unfeard

b. Out from a place. 1375 Barb. ix. 151.
Thair archeris furth to thame thai send Ib. x. 245.
Thai that war went furth beforn … fled a1400 Leg. S. i. 439.
Cum furth, my hundis, here in hy Ib. xxi. 680.
Of it [sc. the kirk] furth thai cuth nocht wyn ?1438 Alex. ii. 29.
The king he rais and furth he gais 1460 Peebles B. Rec. 138.
The sys … ȝid fwrtht and was awyssit 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 32.
The saidis craftis sall … bring him furth and gar bery him honestlie a1500 Rauf C. 601.
He saw the King was engreuit, and gat furth glaid c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxi. 26.
Ane old ȝaid aver, Schott furth our clewch to pull the clever a1540 Freiris Berw. 399.
The freir … saw … thair wantit nocht, Bot all wes furth brocht 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 234.
The greit hole in the buriall dyke quhair the folk … clam in and furth a1578 Pitsc. I. 41/3.
The chancelar on sett purpois raid fourtht to meit him 1603 Moysie 22.
The King past furthe at the yet in the nether bailye 1618 Wemyss Chart. (MS).
To remove themselffs … furth und fra the saidis landes

c. In verse sometimes preceding the verb. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 233.
As thai furth farand ware c1450-2 Howlat 601.
Richt so did the ferd quhair he furth fure a1500 Rauf C. 655.
Thair was na fyue of thay freikis that micht him furth fend 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 16.
Thocht I thame write furthfollowand hys vers Ib. vi. xi. 13.
Baith his handys joyfull furthstracht he than

d. Outward, further out; to a distance. c1420 Wynt. i. 897.
The land of Surry … Furtht strekand to the Grekes Se 1434 Liber. Aberbr. 67.
And sua furth est as Dunberrow streikis a1500 Henr. Fab. 2306.
The wolf braid furth his fute Id. III. 114/9.
I lukit furth a litil me befor 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 118.
The flour delys furthspred hys hevynly hew 1549 Compl. 40/48.
To leuk far furtht gyf he culd see ony schips 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 170.
As far furth as Merchinstone vpon the borrow moore 1600 Acts IV. 210/1.
His maiestie beknit furth his hand to me

2. a. Out into view or notice. 1375 Barb. iv. 122.
The pomp of pryde ay furth schawis c1420 Wynt. v. 3761.
As he pwt furth hys treté, Ambros sayd [etc.] c1460 Thewis of Wysmen 386.
Thai … son schawis furcht al thar entent c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 157.
I sall say furth the south, dissymyland no word Id. xc. 56.
That thow schaw furth thi synnes al and sum 1549 Compl. 130/17.
Quhen the committaris of trason ar tryit furtht 1582 Conv. Burghs I. 137.
That the saidis magistratis of Edinburgh cers furth all the vnfrie tovnes 1558-66 Knox ii 322.
The suspitioun whairof burst furth so far that [etc.]

b. Forward, further, in action or discourse. a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 90.
Syne mad I furth mencione Of hir ded & hir assumpcione Ib. xxvii. 850.
Sanct Machor Furth preichit as he did befor The Pechtis c1420 Wynt. i. 767.
Than wyll he wyth the tothir [horn] mak Hys bargane furth Ib. ii. Prol. 20.
Nowe tharefore in to certane terme This tretys furtht I wyll afferme c1420 Ratis R. 591.
Gif hop be led with reson furcht c1460 Consail Wys Man 341.
Strik nocht ay furtht thi fellony c1475 Wall. iii. 36.
We leiff thaim her, and spek furth off Wallas Ib. V. 225.
Of Wallace furth I will yow tell c1515 Asl. MS. I. 210/7.
Thairefter rang his son Eduard of Wyndissore furth in his cruelnes c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 481.
Sum raiffis furght rudly with riatus speche Id. lxix. 23.
Lat fortoune wirk furthe hir rage 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 110.
Oys furth thy chance; quhat nedis proces mar? 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1816.
The hound werie, and fochin furth his fill a1578 Pitsc. I. 144/2.
This nobill lady … exorted all the chiftieans of the airmie to bear fourtht the seige

c. Swa furth, so far on or forward. 1375 Barb. xvi. 320.
He wes swa furth of his wer, That he wes passit throu all Ireland

3. Out, in various, esp. figurative, senses.(1) 1384 Acts I. 349/2.
Hit is accordit … that thai sall stand furght for hym and his boundes a1500 Henr. Fab. 187.
Quhen scho was furth and fre scho was full fane 1496 Acta Conc. II. 20.
The … halding furth of the sade Patrik and his servituris out of his sade tak and maling 1528 Lynd. Dreme 115.
The see was furth; the sand wes smoith & drye 1556 Peebles B. Rec. 233.
John Scot gat ane roung and held him furth on force 1596 Dalr. II. 175/19.
Quha, closet furth at the Castel ȝettis, ludget up and doun the toun as tha mycht 1622-6 Bisset II. 197/15.
Act ane hundreth and ellevin … left furth in the omitted actis 1626 Conv. Burghs III. 218.
Persones that hes … money furth vpone annuell(2) 1537 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 414.
Peying furcht ȝeirlie … the soum of fourtie schillingis a1570-86 Maitl. F. xv. 84.
To bring furth bayth staig and stirk 1581 Conv. Burghs I. 112.
To serche furch the acts of the conventiouns haldin 1590 Ib. 321.
To cheis furch an vnsuspect couwnsall 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV. 179.
Dettis awin in to him and furtht be him 1649-71 Lamont 26.
Ane English man, who gaue him selfe foourth to be a phesitian 1683 Lanark B. Rec. 217.
That … ther be boanfyres putt furth be the haill inhabitants(3) 1513 Doug. ii. xi. 13.
We than … The blesand haris bet furth Ib. xiii. Prol. 164.
Furth quynchyng gan the starris, one be one a1578 Pitsc. I. 38/7.
I wald it war so sloknit furtht and sett assyde 1606 S. Leith Rec. 4/1.
The lichts went furth, the kirke doore being close 1653 Lamont Diary 77.
The Atholers … fyred a stack or two, bot they stayed and put them foorth againe(4) 1521 Stirling B. Rec. I. 12.
Undir the pane of … the dingin fourcht of the calderun bodim

4. In various phrases.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 256.
Quhethir he … suld … syne Do furth his lordis commandyne a1400 Leg. S. iii. 608.
Quhat thu has in thocht … Do fourth c1420 Wynt. v. 1633.
He … bade and dyde furth his service Ib. vii. 74.
Do fourth thi dedys, and be noucht lathe a1500 Henr. Fab. 2087.
Do furth thy mercat; at me thow sall nocht wyn a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1048.
I trete for na favour; Do furch thi devoir(2) 1541 Treas. Acc. viii. 42.
[Fustian to] eyk furht ane pair of blankettis to the Kingis grace 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 133.
The … maister of wark … to end furth the hous … ordanit for the saidis lordis 1563 Waus Corr. I. 32.
Caus him to cum and mak furth his seruice to his maister(3) 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 389/1.
To big, have and set furth fore staris afornent the Kingis calsay 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 3.
In this meanetyme, wer despitfull verses … set fourth against the Regent 1585 James VI Ess. 23.
To set foorth … The praise vntrewe of kings and noble men 1651 Lamont Diary 33.
Ther were many beane fyres sett foorth in token of joy(4) 1445 Misc. Spald. C. V. 282.
James, son and ayre … Alexander the second son and ayre … and sa furth failȝeand of ane sone til ane uthir 1456 Hay I. 75/29.
As we se that dayly it movis fra the orient to the occident, and fra the occident to the orient agayne, and sa furth 1562 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 14.
What dyocie should first be heard, what secondlie, and swa foorth of the rest(5) c1500-c1512 Dunb. l. 46.
This far furth I dar him prais

5. Furth of, out of. a. In contexts implying departure or removal.(1) 1456 Hay I. 45/23.
The Romaynes put thame furth of the toune c1515 Asl. MS. I. 246/2.
A peple callit the Pictis come furth of Sithia 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 223/2.
To tak copyis of ony bukis furtht of our realme 1518 Peebles B. Rec. 46.
[They] houndit thair cattale furth of thar avne ground 1527 Treas. Acc. V. 324.
A gilt challice stollin furtht of the abbay of Newbottill 1549 Ib. IX. 327.
Certane geir tane fra tua Almanis cuming furth of Inglande to get service a1578 Pitsc. II. 217/32.
The said William Stewart was broucht furth of Edinburgh to Sanctandros 1605 Conv. Burghs II. 200.
Bying of the wairis cuming furth of the realm 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 635.
He … did for some tyme withdraw himself furth of the countrey 1689 Acts XII. 66/1.
A pass to go furth of the Kingdome upon his enacting himself never to returne(2) 1513 Doug. i. i. 76.
The wild fyre down sche slang Furth of the clowdis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3914.
The bludy strandis, Quhilkis sprang furth of his feit, and handis a1578 Pitsc. I. 312/9.
Ane blast of eistrene winde come fourtht of the sie 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 112.
Passand airlie furth of hir bed 1613 Wemyss Chart. MS.
Casting of himself heidlongis furth of ane windoe(3) 1526 Liber Aberbr. 460.
For ministracioun of iustice apon personis replegyt … furth of our said iustice ayr 1550 Digest Justiciary Proc. B. 11.
The said day of his depairting furth of captiuitie 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 145.
The escaiping of the said Alexander Keith furth of ward(4) 1487 Paisley B. Rec. 25.
We charge our Justice Clerk … that he putt the samyn [dittay] furth of oure rollis 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 324/1.
All termz tocum, quhill the said George … recover the sammyn furth of the kingis handis 1557 Reg. Cupar A. II. 136.
The annuell pait furtht of the said kirk 1571 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 32.
The fermes, … teindis, and dewateis auchtand furth of the saidis landis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bona patria.
Quhen twelve or maa men ar chosen furth of ony part of the cuntrie 1645 Peebles Gleanings 225.
Under the pane of fourtie poundis and going furth of his said cawtioner for him 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 52.
Their officers … took from him his letters of horning and … deleit the said Grissell and her spous their names furth theroff

b. In contexts implying place or condition.(1) 1511 Reg. Privy S. I. 344/2.
He salbe responsale of the movable gudis of aireschip to his broder elder that is furth of the realme 1535 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 72.
All thai persouns quhilkis … remanis furth of the town contrar the act 1552 Ib. 167.
The said William left furth of the said enteris ane punsioun of gudis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 7.
Gif he be essonzied, as furth of the cuntrie 1664 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 210.
Without exemptione to any, except vpon the account of sickness, or prior absence furth of the toune(2) 1535 Stewart 42435.
With play and sport, … To keip him furth of desperatioun 1551 Treas. Acc. X. 29.
Efter sche was convaleseit furtht of hir seiknes 1562-3 Winȝet I. 56/1.
To hef bene assuirit … that we had bene furth of that way in ony poynt 1570 Leslie 197.
The Governour [etc.] … merched foirduart with gret furie, almoste furth of ordoure 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 69.
Quhill the cherurgeanis testifie the woundit persoun to be furth of all danger

6. Forward or later in respect of time or order. 1375 Barb. i. 14.
To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory Ib. xvi. 531.
Thair worschip … lestand ay furth in lovyng a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 105.
Prayand to God … That he wald … Sa kepe thare child furth that he [etc.] 1431 Reg. Great S. 43/2.
Quhilk somme I oblys me … to pay [at certain times] … and swa furht terme in terme and yheir in yheir a1500 Bk. Chess 1519.
Baltasar … in two diuided land and gud, Gaif him the half, aud so furth aye thai stud 1519 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 190.
At na persouns be fund on the hie gaitt fra ix houris at evin furth, without ane lanterne 1549 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 434.
Assedatioun … for all the terms of thre ȝeiris aud sua furth … unto nynetene ȝeiris be gane 1621 Glasgow Weavers 116.
Nain of thame sall drinck anie kynd of wyne … furth and fra the allevint day of November

b. Preceded by fra thyne, fra that time, etc. a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 107.
Fra thine in-to castyte Thai lufyt [= lived] furth, scho & he 1425 Acts II. 11/1.
The king … has ordanit that his chancellar … sall syt fra hyn furthe thre tymmis in the ȝere 1455 Edinb. Chart. 79.
That we sal assing the chapellane … to sing at the alter fra that tyme furth 1474 Acta Aud. 35/2.
That is to say sax ȝeris fra Witsonday furthe that next cummis 1523 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 217.
That thai sall nocht … tap darrer aill fra this tyme furth na for xx d. the gallowne 1535 Stewart 35719.
Tha fand borowis fra that furtht to be leill 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 65.
To mak thair exchange … fra the nixt feist of Mychaelmes furch