Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ourcast, v. P.t. ourkest. P.p. ourcast, -kest; owrcassyn. [Sc. var. of Overcast.Also, in various senses, in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial. as owercast.]

1. tr. To cover over (with sand). 1482 Peebles B. Rec. I. 191.
Gif it happynnis that the sayd myln be owr set with fludis … or to be owr cassyn with sand

2. ? tr. Of clouds or tempest: To spread over, overcast (the sky) or ? intr. Of the sky: To become overcast. 1513 Doug. v. xii. 52.
A blak tempest Brays but delay and al the lyft ourkest Ib. ix. xi. 20.
Quhill clowdis clattris and all the lyft ourcastis

b. P.p. Of the sky: Overcast (with clouds). — 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 36.
The firmament ourcast [Sm. ourkest] with rokis blak

3. intr. Of the stomach: To be upset, to ‘turn over’. (Cf. Overcasting vbl. n. and Ourthraw v. 6.) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 30.
Bot quhen he on the barrowis blenkit The telȝouris hairt a littill schrenkit, His hairt did all ourcast 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4347 (Bann.).
All the nycht my hairt ourcastis With bokking and with hinder blastis

4. To throw (someone) over, to cast off. absol. a1568 Scott xii. 53.
Gif ȝe our cast, My lyf is past