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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Midwart, -ward(e, n. and adv. Also: myd-. [ME. mid-, myd(d)ward(e, OE. middeweard: cf. MDu. middewaert. (Cf. also Mid(d)il(l)-ward(e n.)]

1. The middle or central part of anything; spec., the centre of an army. Chiefly in (the) midwart (of something).(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 682 (C).
That is ane ile in[to] the se And may weill in mydwart be Betuix Kyntyr and Irland c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1217.
Into midwart ordanit was the king c1475 Wall. vi. 503.
Als mony syne in the mydwart put he 1533 Bell. Livy II. 45/12.
In the myd warde 1535 Stewart 27056 heading.
The King of Scottis tuke the vangaird, the King of Pechtis the reirward, and Arthure in the midward(2) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1156.
He lichtit doun in midwart of the feild a1500 Henr. Fab. 2879 (Bann.).
Quhen thai in mydwart of the streme wer went c 1571 Lamont P. 89.
Yn the mydward of the ylk greine sette(3) 1513 Doug. xii. viii. 127.
Full … hait, The mydwart of his ennemys [he] dyd invaid

b. fig. The mean; the middle course, between the extremes. 1456 Hay II. 62/34, 35.
Thus techis temperaunce a man to kepe the mydwarde, for vertu is ay in the mydwarde Ib. 36/20.
Mydwart

2. The middle (of the day), midday. ?1438 Alex. ii. 8044.
Or it be mydwart of the day

3. adv. In the middle, taking the middle course. c1475 Wall. v. 920.
Off kyn he was and Wallace modyr ner Off Craufurd syd that mydward had to ster 1513 Doug. iii. x. 57.
The way that steris Mydwart betwix Charibdis and Scylla