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

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

Ourthwort, -thort(e, adv. and prep. Also: oure-, owr- and -thuort, -thourt(h, -thowrt. [North. ME. ourthuert (Cursor M.), var. of overthwert, Overthort(e adv. Cf. Ourquhort (and Thwortour).]

A. adv. Across; in a transverse or crosswise direction; from one side to the other of something.(a) 1375 Barb. viii. 172.
Thre dykis ourthwort [E. our thuort] he schar Fra bath the mossis to the vay 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 151.
Befor Tantalus … The goldin trestys schynand standis ourthwort(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 4656.
The Scottis men held the tothir way Syne owrthort [C. ourthort, Au. ourequhort] to that way held thai Ib. 4679.
Hys spere in bathe his handis can ta And kest it owrthort [C. ourthowrt, Au. oureqwort, W. oure thwort] 1425 Acts II. 12/1.
The … ferlote … sal contene in breid evin ourethorte xvj inchys a1500 Seven S. 1040.
At that wyndo was all hir sport To sit and se and luke ourethort c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 55 (B).
Thocht sayis I hecht coim I ourthort I houp to lows the presoneir

B. prep. From one side to the other of, so as to cross, across above or through.(a) c1475 Wall. v. 319.
Our thwort [1570, ouirhort] the Kers to the Torwode he ȝeide 1533 Boece ii. xii. 83.
Quhen this was done sone lap out Gillus & ran ourethwort the feildis Ib. iv. vii. 134 b.
Voada bisselie rynnand ourthwort the armye(b) ?1438 Alex. ii. 1896.
And with the tother hand sik ane suak He raucht euin ourthort the bak c1475 Wall. iv. 234.
A loklate bar was drawyn ourthourth the dur 1511–12 Wemyss Chart. 139.
Thane sall pas ourthourt the mos 1513 Doug. v. xii. 102.
The dirk nycht Rollyt hys cart ourthourt [Sm. ourthwort, Ruddim. owrthwort] the polys bricht

b. To and fro in, through. 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 17.
So thochtis threthis in thra our brestis ourthwort [Ruddim. ouerthort] Ib. xii. Prol. 56.
Fyschis on the greit Ourthwort cleir stremys Ib. xii. x. 92.
The beys within affrayt all of new Ourthwort [E. ouer throwart, Ruthv. ourthort, 1553, ourthowrt] thar hyvis and walxy tentis rynnys