Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hard(i)s, n. Also: herdis. [North. and north midl. ME. hardes (15th c.), herdes (c 1350), midl. and south. herdes, hurdes (14th c.), early heorden, OE. heordan pl.] The coarser parts of flax or hemp separated in hackling; oakum, tow. 1375 Barb. xvii. 612.
Pik and ter als haf thai tane And lynt and hardis [E. herdis] with brynstane 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 252.
For vij stane … of herdis 1497 Halyb. 47.
For hardis to stuf with 1511 Edinb. Hammermen 73.
For … hardis for to clos the lang kist with quhar the mys come in 1513 Doug. viii. xii. 48.
The kyndillyt lynt and hardis byrnand schire 1558-66 Knox I. 195. Ib. 197.
As the hardis in baptisme signifie the rowchnes of the law 1567 Crim. Trials I. 500.
Redy are we to embrace evill, as redy as hardes [v.r. herdis] to receive fyre 1597 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 645.
A quarter of hemp hardis to be cuffing 1624 Edinb. Test. LII. 172.
xxx staine candilmaker hardis 1622-6 Bisset II. 238/22.
Hardis of auld cordage 1662 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 135.
[Some] louse lint and hards … within the hold of the ship 1685 Inverness Customs 5 b.
Tuo litle matts hards

b. Hardis weik, candle-wick made of hards.Later also hard weik and hardin weik (q.v.). 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 6.
At thai [candlemakers] sell the pund thairof [of candle] commonlie for vj d. the rag weyk, and v d. the lib. the hardis weyk 1583 Edinb. Test. XII. 248 b.
Sevin clewis of spune hardis weikis estimat to v stane wecht