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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.
Mont, n. Also: monte, mounte, mownt, munt. [ME. mont, munte (12–13th c.), ME. (13th c.) and e.m.E. mount, OF. mont, munt masc., monte fem., also ME. munnt (Orm), OE. munt, L. mons, mont-is.]Chiefly in the form mont. As mount, mownt is appar. unrecorded between the mid 15th and the 17th c., it seems likely that the later instances represent a fresh adoption from e.m.E.
1. A mountain or hill; any piece of high ground.Also plur. as coll., = stretch of hilly country, ‘the mountains’.(a) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 313/3.
Quhen he [Abraham] and his sone ascendit to the mont 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 141.
The rumour is, doun thrung vndir this mont [sc. Etna] Enchelades body with thundir lyis half bront Ib. viii. viii. 57.
Vale, mont and swyre Ib. xi. xv. 102.
Onon is he to the heich mont adew Ib. iv. vii. 9, vii. ix. 57, viii. vii. 113. 1533 Boece viii. viii. 266.
Sum part ran to the top of the mont, quharefra thai mycht direct apoun Saxouns cast dartis 1535 Stewart 24505. Ib. 25724. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 398.
The mont [sc. Caucasus] with snaw was all sa condensat 1633 Acts V. 98/1.
The landis of Merkinshe with the comoun pasturage … callit the Burghauch lyand betuix the mont and the water(b) 1456 Hay I. 289/29.
He suld … ly … in a mountaigne … callit Mount More … and quhen he is in the hicht of the mount [etc.] 1675 Inverness Presb. 50.
In the mount betuixt the parioches of Moy and Duthellplur. 1638 Baillie I. 65.
This made him slippe away disaguysed over the mounts
b. Hilly land, high land, moorland. 1535 Stewart 1286. Ib. 24512.
The mont, the mure, the dounis and the daill 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 40.
The distance betwixt the two kirkis is 14 mylis of mosse and mount with great wateris in the way
c. Attrib. with fute. — 1533 Boece x. xvi. 392 b.
Kenneth … convoyit his cumpany be ane lang lauborios way behind the mont fute
d. Put for: Month n.2 1. 1576 Bk. Univ. Kirk. I. 359.
The kirks of the Mernes beyond the Munt upon the water of Dee 1578 Ib. II. 416.
The Mont 1579 Ib. 435.
The Mount 1639 Acts V. 606/2.
Ane taxt roll of that pairt of the lordship of Lundoiris benorth the Mont callit the baronie of Logiefintrie
2. In the names of particular foreign mountains or hills.After L. mons or F. mont in the L. or F. forms of these names.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vii. 248.
Thar-for rycht sare he cane gret Sittand in the Monte of Olywet c1420 Wynt. i. 885.
The Mownt of Synay a1500 Henr. Orph. 29 (Bann.).
Vpone the Mont of Elecone 1513 Doug. x. iv. 2.
Ȝour Mont of Helycon 1551 Hamilton Cat. 152.
He was nalit on the crosse on the stinkand Mont of Calvary(2) c1475 Wall. viii. 887.
On the Mont Mychell quhar he [sc. Arthur] the gyand slew a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 728 (A).
At the Mont Olivet c1515 Asl. MS. I. 303/24.
The hie hill Mont Caspius Ib. 304/24.
Thar is Mont Syon, Mont Caluary, Mont Oliuet Ib. 315/2.
Studying on the hie gret Mont Athalenticus a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 368 (B).
Thow hes a widdy twch On Mont Falcone abowt thy craig to rax 1513 Doug. xi. xiii. 115.
Into the Mont Appennynus dwelt he 1533 Bell. Livy I. 34/8.
Betuix Mont Palentyne and Mont Capitolyne(3) c1590 J. Stewart 19/173.
Than sychs as fume from Etna Mont out went
3. An artificial hillock, a mound. 1570 Leslie 284.
Than the Inglismen … beggit ane litill mont, quhilk thay called Mounte Pellam, and placed thair ordinance thairupoun 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xv.
A mont to show worldly glory 1646 J. Hope Diary (1958) 179.
They build it [ore] in litle square stackes or monts c1650 Spalding I. 259.
Thay rais midding montis vpone the calsay and … stellit cannonis on ilk ane of thir montis for persute of the castell
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"Mont n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 22 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mont_n>