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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.

Idiot, Ydiot, n. Also: id-, ydeot(e. [ME. yd-, ideot(e, etc., yd-, idiot, etc. (a 1300), F. idiot (13th c.), L. idiōta, an uneducated, ignorant, common person.]

1. An idiot, a natural, an imbecile. a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 148.
Wenand that I ware sic a ydiot That thu suld wit my priuete 1475 Acts II. 112/2.
The alienacione of lordis and barons landis throw ydiotis and natural fulis, furious and woodmen 1536 Reg. Privy S. II. 305/2.
Makand mentioun that William Creichtoun … is daft and natural ideot c 1580 Misc. Spald. C. II. 333.
That your hienes … will neuir mene to coact … me to my barnis as ane sencles ideot 1585 Acts III. 396/1.
That the nearest kinsmen of naturall foulis, ideottis, and furious salbe … ressauit … to thair tutorie and curatorie 1672 Justiciary Rec. II. 113.
He was but an ideot and not able to entertain himself

2. A person without professional knowledge, an inexpert person; an unlearned or illiterate person, a simple layman. 1549 Compl. 14/4.
Quhen ane ydiot, distitute of knaulage, presumis to … leyrne ane man that hes … experiens 1560 Bk. Disc. 253.
Some idiottis … dar counterfait in thair housses that which the treu ministeris do in the open congregatioun 1606 Rollock Serm. 1 Thess. 344 (J).
The translating of the Bible in euery common language is ordained, that the idiots who hes the mother tonge only may vnderstand [etc.]attrib. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3887.
Ane idiot preist Esay compaireth plaine Till ane dum dogge 1573-1600 Burne Cath. Tr. 145/26.
It is na meruel that God … sufferis thair idiot inferioris callit Ministeris, to be maisteris ouer thame [sc. the Bishops]