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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.

Outset, n.¹ Also: owt- and -sett, -satt, -sete, -seit(t, -seytt, -sait(t, -saite, -seat(t. [Of uncertain derivation; ? f. OE. set, ᵹesete, seat, place of settling, etc. (see Onset(t n.²).]

a. A smaller piece of land outlying or detached from, but dependent on, a main estate or holding; a pendicle. b. Such a piece of land reclaimed from moorland and brought into cultivation or habitation.Very common in the 16th and 17th c. in lists of pertinents in grants and deeds conveying rights in land.(a) 1509–10 Reg. Great S. IV. 729.
Terras de Calen, Calentreth and Dowglas cum pendiculis, le owtsettis, tenentibus [etc.] 1509–10 Reg. Privy S. I. 305/2, etc.
Of the landis of Invergarry … with thair pertinence, outsettis, pendiculis and forestis 1511 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 364.
Et est notandum quod tenens … de lie hauch edificabit tres lie outsettis versus montem castri de Drummynor et easdem inhabitari faciet per se aut suos 1517 Reg. Great S. 27/1.
Terras … cum silvis, le parkis et boggis, pendiculis, outsettis et molendinis tam non edificatis quam edificatis, tenentibus [etc.] 1519 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 187.
That quhatsumeuir persoun quhilk had the outsettis and akeris of the Borrowmure in few of the toun that had nocht fulfillit the biggingis and completit the samyn with barnys, killis … and servandis … that the saidis landis and aikeris mycht returne agane to the toune Ib. 190. 1538 Moncreiffs 70. 1540 Reg. Morton II. 262. 1544 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 25.
Cotteristoune et owtset eiusdem 1564 Ib. II. 88.
Terras de Thoumereauch que lie owtsett de Kindrocht existunt 1566 Reg. Soltre 129.
The acres ruidis and outsettis and coitlandis of the said mainis 1568 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 318.
It is statut that Thomas Boiswell tak saising of ane outset that he hes biggit vpone oure commontie 1575–6 Reg. Privy S. VII. 62/2.
[The lands of Culsche with their pendicles and outsets and in special] the outset callit Quhytbog 1580 Liber Dryburgh 311.
Quatuor acris terrarum cum lie outsettis hortis earundem et suis pertenentiis 1584 Acts III. 365/2.
All and haill the thrie husband landis and ane coitland with housis, ȝairdis, and outsett thairof 1585 Bk. Dunvegan I. 76. 1595 Edinb. Test. XXVIII. 45 b.
The rycht and kyndnes of his outsett in the new raw of Kelso 1597 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 368.
Unacum toftis croftis lie outsettis nemoribus [etc.] 1600 Liber Dryburgh 316.
Owtsettis 1600 Peterkin Orkney & Zetl. App. 17. 1637 Bamff Chart. 248. 1641 Stirling Chart. 139. 1667 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. III. 30.
Owstetts 1692 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 23.(b) 1532 Reg. Privy S. II. 194/2.
Duarum carrucatarum terrarum de Futhesbeg … et le outsete Blairchelle nuncupat 1541 Ib. 661/1.
Super toto et integro tenemento terre, cum le outsete, ante et retro, cum horto et pertinentiis ejusdem jacen. infra burgum de Jedburgh 1563 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 252.
Terras nostras de Kyrkhill cum lie outsete earundem nuncupato vulgariter The Tulloch(c) 1509–10 Rentale Dunkeld. MS. 84.
Andrew Wardropper de decimis de Balclwnas cum lie owtseittis [etc.] 1540 Reg. Privy S. II. 550/1.
The landis of Carmyle … with the outseitis and cotages thairof Ib. 551/2. 1540 Acts II. 379/1. 1544 Grant Chart. 279.
Witht the partinence and fischingis of the foirnamit townis, … the ferre cobbill, owte seittis [etc.] 1578 Aberd. Chart. 340.
And als ordanis the outseyttis biggit on the nort syd of the said gett … to be removit(d) 1543 Inverness Sheriff Ct. 12 b.
The croift … and the schealling and outseat proclamit be the said Thomas … to be … pendicles off the said toune and landis 1614 Aboyne Rec. 216 (see Mos n. A. 4 (2)).
Outseattis 1620 Grant Chart. 318. 1621 Ib. 218. 1621 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 575. 1638 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 464.
Possessores of the saidis landes of Tilliquhorskie pendicle and outseat thairof callit Boigheides 1652 Burnett Fam. P. 264.(e) 1562 Douglas Chart. 253.
Outsaite 1576 Prot. Bk. T. Auchinlek 5 b.
Outsaittis(f) 1581 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone 20.
In the twa plewchtis of land … except the outsatt

c. In some instances there is appar. confusion with Onset(t n.² 1543 Reg. Privy S. III. 68/2.
With housis, bigingis, outsettis, touris, fortalices, fischingis [etc.] 1549–50 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 599.
[That his crops were destroyed by the English and the] howsis and outsettis [were burned by them] 1609 Soc. Ant. IV. 390.
To the toun and landis of Sownbergh outsettis houssis bigginis barnis barne ȝairdis [etc.]