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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.

Hunt, n.¹ Also: hwnt, huntt, hount. [ME. (once) hunte (Chaucer), e.m.E. hunt (1537).]

1. Only in the plur. form huntis (treated as a sing.): A, or the, hunt.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 236.
Hapnyt hyme … That he a day til hwntis ȝede 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 92.
To the King quhen he pas furth of Stirling to the hwntis c 1490 Reg. Panmure I. xxv.
He beine rydand at the hwntes neir to the Grein Lawe of Brechine 1531 Bell. Boece I. 39.
The body curit to be at the pleseir of the maister of huntis 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II. 281.
For the queinis maiesteis expensis in passage throucht Athoil from the huntis to Inuernes 1581 Bann. Memor. 333.
He past to ane huntis in ane woud … whair he slew thrie hairis and ane tode 1617 Misc. Spald. C. V. 96.
Quhen his Majestie was at the huntis in Muiremouth c1650 Spalding I. 42.
Alexander Gordoun … being at the huntis in Glenelgefig. a1568 Balnavis Bann. MS. 139 a/72.
Thow man latt be sic huntis(b) 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxxi.
Thre men quhilkis wer at thair hountis 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II. 107.
Quhene we cherge thame to pas with ws to the hountis(2) transf. a1578 Pitsc. II. 26/2.
He wald haue had sum hunttis of the Hammiltownis … , quha had done him … so gret displessour

b. In the name of the song and dance Huntis up, and its tune. (e.m.E. ‘The hunt is up’ (1537).) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2075.
The cadgear sang, ‘Huntis vp, vp,’ vpoun hie 1549 Compl. 66/18.
Thai dancit al cristyn mennis dance, … huntis vp, [etc.] a1568 Scott v. 13.
In May gois gallandis bring in symmer … With ‘Hunts vp’ every morning plaid 16.. Sempill P. 41/12.
Now who shall play, the Day it Daws, or Hunts Up

2. Attrib. in hunt-beist, an animal of the chase; hunthall = hunting hall, Hunting vbl. n. 4. 1488 Treas. Acc. l. 93.
For the byggin and reparacion of the Hwnt Hall 1505 Ib. III. 156.
For iiij cariage hors to the Hunthall with pailȝons Ib.
At the Hunthall of Glenfinglas — 1535 Stewart 14949.
He ordanit … That na hunt beist with schutting sould be slane