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.

Keth(e, Keith, Keyth, v. P.t. kethit, keithit, etc. [Var., appar. chiefly north-eastern, of Kythe v., with unexplained change of vowel.Although the ei, ey forms might conceivably be mere spelling-variants of kythe, these nevertheless seem to be confirmed by the later north-eastern (Aberdeenshire) dial. keething (rare, 1796), vbl. n. = marks on the surface of a river betraying the movements of a fish.]

1. tr. To display by one's actions, give proof of (some quality); to display in performance, to do (a favour). b. To display by one's action (that one possesses a certain quality). a1400 Leg. S. vii. 387.
For-thi this crafte thu keth one me, & waryse myn infyrmyte 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 128.
That daye dame Nature with gret besynes Fortherit Flora, to keyth hir craftynes 1620 Grant Chart. 326.
Our act of litis contestatioun … being buikit … at quhilk tyme aduocatis fauour keithit was rememberit 1626 Garden Worthies 58.
From works of valor thay ther honor hade, And knightlie courage keith'd wnto the coast Of foes defait 1655 Dingwall Presb. 267.
Forsaking his former sinnes … and keything his hatred of itb. a1400 Leg. S. xii. 232.
Jhesu … That kethit wele that be wes mek For He forgafe hyme the syne

2. intr. a. To reveal oneself (in a certain light). b. To show oneself, to come into or be in view. 1606 Acts IV. 292/1.
He keythit than so cairfull and waitchefull seruitour, that [etc.] a1695 P. Hume Narr. Exped. Argyle, 1685 (1809) 62.
Wee … let our horses be keithing [pr. kerthing] in their view till the foot wer marched an houre