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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quite, Quyt(e, Quit(t, adj. Also: qwite; qwyt(e, quytt(e, qwytt(e; quyitt(e; queyte; qwit(t; quhit, qwhit, quhyt(e, qwhyt. [ME and e.m.E. cwite, quite (Ancr. R.), quyte, OF quite, med. L. quitus (L. quiētus Quiet); ME and e.m.E. quyt (c 1275), kuytte (Ayenb.), quit (c 1290), qwitte, quitte, OF quitte later var. of quite, med. L. quittus.]The common spellings quyte, quite, found throughout the period beside the ambiguous quyt, and the great majority of the rhymes, point to the form with the original long vowel. The spellings quit(t etc., presum. representing the form with the original short vowel, though much les common, also occur throughout the period.

Only in predicative use.

1. Freed, liberated. a. From (of) prison, captivity, enslavement. b. From (of or out of) danger, or a threat. c. To ga or pas quyte, to go free. Also to lepe quite to jump free. d. (To deliver) free.In some instances, there is ambiguity with Quite adv.a. 1375 Barb. xviii 543.
To the King of Fraunce … He sent thaim quit, but ransoun fre a1400 Leg. S. iv 88.
He wes lousit bath fut and hand All quyt of the fendis band Ib. xlvi 91.
Mad quyt of presone ?1438 Alex. ii 6746.
Beaushir, ȝe ar alluterly Quyte delyuered of presoun Ib. 10398, 10498. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 436.
Mak Desperance quite of captiuitieb. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2011.
Than sone Agamenon … Fra all parrell of se maid quyte, Come home to his kynryk tyte c1420 Wynt. iv 400.
Than the kyng Cyrus Gert qwyte delyver this kyng Cresus Owt off that fyre 1481 Acts II 138/1.
The saidis persones … salbe qwite of al dangere & perell … in thare lyfis landis & gudis anent the saide accioun and never to be folowit accusit nor chalangit therof c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 459.
Venus gart … Confort … dissolue his handis quhilks richt fast bundin war And maid him quite of all his greit dangeir Id. Seven S. 7876.
Sa ar ȝe quite of danger, sturt and schoir Ib. 7893.
Than was the schiref of the kingis danger quite Be the greit help of this lady sa quhitec. ?1438 Alex. i 2911.
Bot I sall quyte to Gaderis ga Maugre the chaissaris Ib. ii 10500.
My vther freindis alsua May quyte hame but ransoun ga c1500 Barounis Lawis fol. 17.
The party defendand may [etc.] … and throw dome in court receid and quyt pas — a1500 Henr. Fab. 2085.
With that the foxe lap quyte the creillis frayd. c1420 Wynt. v 5318.
The Deville askyd, Quhy that yhe Men ar qwyte delyveryd fre Throwch Crystys Passyowne precyows boucht

2. Discharged or clear (of or fra (also for and with) an undertaking, obligation, burden or due payment).

a. By exemption or release. Also to ga quyte, and without dependent construction.(1) 1410 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 75.
Gif the said erle … procuris his said wif til quitcleme [hir sai]d jointfeftment … than the forsaid erle … sall be quit of his oblising c1420 Wynt. v 4843.
[Al] qwyt [C. qwhit] and fre sa scho wes Fra that lauche off awlde Moyses Ib. vii 1776.
Off the Papys awtoryte Thai gat thame lowsyd qwyte and fre Off the fewte … That to the Kyng than off Ingland Thai had made ?14.. Ship Laws c. 3 (B).
Ony burges of Scotland that is qwyte of custom 14.. Acts I 361/2.
Of thaim that ar quytt of toll: erlis [etc.] … salbe quyt of gevin of toll or custom within the burrowys 1437 Cop. St. A. 161.
Gif it happynnis the said Jhone [etc.] … to failȝe … thai sall ga quyt of the forsaid tak 1443 Maxwell Mem. I 165.
That the said lorde … be fre and quite … of the payment 1506 Glasg. Dioc. Reg. II 162.
He and his to byde in to the peciable possessione of thai samyn, free and quyte of all wther clames, takis [etc.] 1527 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 232.
The saidis vnfremen till pay … the mettage and the fremen tilbe quit of the said mettaig and fre of ony payne thairof 1564 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 55.
The said promise made be the said Patrick … on na way might be sustainit be the law of the evangell and therefor the said Patrick to be quyte therfra 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 2.
To grant to the kings ma^tie ane propyne of twenty tun of wyne upoun conditioun to be quyte of all uther burding 1611 Conv. Burghs II 313.
That ilk burgh sall be frie and queyte, ane with ane other, fra payment of … pittie customs … of thair … wearis at the tounland portis 1622-6 Bisset I 40/5.
That they sall nocht be haldin … to pay to ws … any fynance or indempnitie … quhilkis we have quytted … and hes dischargit, and discharges, thame quyte of the samin 1675 Stitchill Baron Ct. 77.
Robert Hopper … is judicially decerned to make payment to Margrat Scott … the sowme of 10 lib. … and quit for the maill and dewty of the land [etc.](2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2365 (H).
It is aganis my will That ȝone carle for ane cabok suld ga quite [: wyte, flyte]

b. As having fulfilled the obligation or made the payment.(1) 1384 Misc. Hist. Soc. V 33.
Alsa the forsayd Richart wald haf givin and sald that forsayd land til ony man that wald haf made him quyt for his lyf c1420 Wynt. vii 2108.
Bot fra this Philipe had wysyt The Haly Land, and mad hym qwyt Off his purpos 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 123.
The cwsstwmaris is qwyt of the Candilmes term in al and in siluer 1458 Ib. 129.
Before the chawmerlane, Thom Robyson and Georg was fund be an inqwyst quhyt of the som that Thom Doby clamyt apon tham 1478 Acta Aud. 76/2. 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 68. 1497–8 Ib. 127. 1513 Doug. Direct. 119.
Now am I fully quyt As twichand Venus of myn ald promyt Quhilk I hir maid 1576 Orkney Oppress. 49.
Quhen thai ar all put to acquittance and quha that failȝeis to be quyt becummis convict in ane domeraw to be payit amang sa mony as is unquyt coniunctlie ilk man his pairt 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 366.
To be declared to be frie and quytt simpliciter of the peyment of the said ten thousand punds 1636 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXXII 220.(2) 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 8.
Anent the contribucion made to our kingis dochter … gif the said John of Fyff may mak the town qwyt with this sowm, well be that

c. Discharged, free (of or fra a claim or challenge).Also to pas (also recede) quyte and without dependent construction.(1) 1456 Hay I 167/24.
That he gert him be quyte of his pure mennis clame, and put thair soume in his payment a1500 Henr. Fab. 2352.
Quyte off all clamis, swa ȝe will mak him fre, Ȝe sall ane cabok haue 1506 Glasg. Dioc. Reg. II 162.
Bot he and his to byde in to the peciable possessione of thai samyn [lands] free and quyte of all wther clames, takis [etc.] … throw me 1518 Fife Sheriff Ct. 120.
Qwyte 1600 Conv. Burghs II 77.(b) 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 124.
Wil Dennis was maid qwyt of John Sellar clam be sis 1461 Newburgh B. Ct. fol. 5b.
He wes mayd qwyt of haw clamis … anens the Park Hyll 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 105.
The Lordis … decernis thame qwyt of the clame of the cornes abone expremit 1498 Ib. 281.
That because [etc.] … he suld be qwyt of ony calling tharfore(c) 1473 Acta Aud. 26/2.
That the said Sir William … is quite of the clame & chalance of the said Patrik 1476 Ib. 56/2, etc. 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cvii. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 22b.(d) 1456 14th Rep. Hist. MSS App. iii 11.
And decernitt the forsaide Andro of all the forsaide actionis allvtrelly was made qwhit and vn-wemyt 1461 Newburgh B. Ct. fol. 7a.
Robert Robertsone askyt to be rowit at he wes quhit of his clayme 1485 Acta Conc. I *102/1.
Qwit 1495 Ib. 430/1, etc. 1598 Liber Coll. Glasg. lxxvi.
The Lords of Counsall assoilyies … the saids provest and baillies of Glasgow fra the petitioun … and decernis thame quit therfra(2) 1456 Hay I 73/34.
And gif a man failis his pruf, the defendour is quyte(3) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 7 (B).
Gyf the maystyr wyl swere … that thair wynys war nocht sondryt thrw thair hustal thai sal pas qwyte & be delyueryt 14.. Acts I 327/2.
Gif the forsaid hund takis the best the huntar … sal pas away quyt and fre bot ony chalange of the king 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 22a. — 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 38.
& the tother party sal reced a way quyt

d. Of a debt or due payment: Discharged, cleared, paid, repaid. 1399 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 42.
Gif the defesance … mai be fundin or gottin in tyme to cum … it sall be of na valow … bot be qwit of it selfe and be giffin to thame freli again c1420 Ratis R. 550.
That quha-sa knew it wald nocht wein, And he had lent thar pennis thre, That neuir thai agan quit suld bee 1456 Hay I 139/2.
That is to say that thai mycht ask payment for thair service, quhilk was before tyme quytt 1493 Halyb. 11.
Contyt with Sir R. Wellis … and all thyngis quyt clar to that day, excep [etc.] 1495 Ib. 23.
Som costis quyt is 13 li. 12 s. 6 d. 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 41.
In arles that wes quyt 1667 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 194.
The said persuer was aughtand the said defender 5 merks, but he thought it was quyte

e. Of an obligation or due payment: Remitted. Chiefly to gif quyt, to remit; also to lat (a due payment) go quhit. Cf. Quite v. 5. f. Of a property or inheritance: Free (of or fra claims, obligations or burdens etc.); free, clear (of debts).e. 1462 Peebles B. Rec. I 148.
And gewyn his fredom quhit for his fee of his seriandschep 1464 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i p. 522 (5 Dec.).
Johne of Knoll sall gif quyt at our instans and request the x merkis til Alexander Howyson that he clamyt him of 1502 Orkney Rentals i 7.
The half of the malt scat wes gevin quyt be umquhile Erle William in cossing for landis he gat therfor 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 259/2. 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 330.
To ane pure man of Murray, to quhome the king gaif xij li. of ferme quyt, to mak his expens 1622-6 Bisset II 89/31.
Gif thair be diverse and sindrie executouris ane of thame without consent of the rest may nocht compone, transact, gif quyte, renunce or gif discharge of any sowme of money — 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 145.
[To] sweir … quhat proffet he gat of the hors hyd, and geif he gat na proffet, lat it go quhitf. c1420 Wynt. vii 3545.
Schyre Willame Comyn till hawe that qwyt Till hald in fre barony Ib. viii 974.
How Robert oure kyng recoweryd his land … And it restoryd in all fredwme Qwhyt till hys ayris off all threldwme 14.. Acts I 27/2.
Gif ony man sayis at he tuke his punde befor … and than sall hafe his punde quyte till hym Ib. 49/2.
Gyf ony man makis knawyn his mone fra him thiftuysly to be tane and findis it in ony toune but ony warand it sal not be leyful til hym til haif it away quyte [L. eam quiete abducere] 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 75.
The keparis of heretagis ar haldyn to restor to the ayr the heretagis stuffit & quyt of dettis 1438 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 49.
The forsaide halfe tenement … aganes al erdly men and women … we sal warrande and mac quyt and for evirmair defende 1650 Glasgow Chart. II 10.
The samyne superioritie … to be frie, fred, quhyte and saife fra all … wodsettis … , appryseingis … , disclamationes, nullities, forfaltouris [etc.]

g. To discharge (oneself) quite of, to renounce all claim to. — 1516 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 159.
Dauid Mailvill provest … hes frelie gevin over and dischairgit him quite of the bigging that he hes maid vpoun the Borrow mure … but ony clame in tyme to cum and ordanis the stuf of the biggit land to be applyit to the commoun walling

h. To gif quite, to give up; to leave off dealings with; to go without. c1420 Wynt. v 5335.
Than sawe the Dewyll that he cowthe noucht … Ourecum Saynct Serff … For-thi he thare gave hym qwyte, For he wan at hym na profyte a1568 Scott xxxi 8.
Quha lykis to luve … He sall tyne appetyte, And meit and sleip gife quyte

3. Cleared, acquitted; innocent (of an offence).Cf. Quite v. 9 a.(1) 14.. Acts I 5/2.
Gif ony mysdoar thruch dome be hingit and eftirwart he eschapis of the gallowys he sal be quyt as of that deid [L. quietus sit de illo facto] fra thin furth 1488 Acts II 211/1.
The trew lordis & baronis that wes with him in the samyne feild war innocent quhyt & fre of the saidis slauchteris feild 1501 Acta Conc. III 10.
The said Bernard was made qwyt of the reff of the sade corne 1504 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 49. 1508 Mill Mediæv. Plays 138.
The said Mathou was maid quyt be the said assis of all strublance of the said Dauid 1514 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 152.
Quitt 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 48.
Qwytt chargeles & fre of the said distroubilance bloid drauing & of the witte of the samyn 1518 Ib. 136.
Qwitt 1519 Ib. 150.
Qwytte 1525 Crim. Trials I i 131.
Quhil thai had owth^r maid thame quyte, or fylit thame of the said slauchtir 1542 Acts II 417/2.
Quite c1575 Balfour Pract. 307.
Or ȝit thay beand accusit … beis quyte and clengit thairof 1584 Acts III 307/1.
Quhill the saidis personis culpable and suspect salbe tryit quite or fowll of the saidis treasounable crymis 1612 Orkn. & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 26.
And fand the remanent persones quyt and frie thairof 1613 Ib. 68.
Quyt(2) c1420 Wynt. ix 2361.
Ane assis first maid thaim qwyte [: dispyte] c1575 Balfour Pract. 571.
And he quha sould have been summoundit sall be quite and fre 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 33.
And gif he be made quit, and cleane(3) 1455 Acts II 44/2.
[To] remane in firmance … quhill the tyme thai haif tholit ane assise quhether thai be quyt or foule 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 158.
Quite 1641 Acts V (1817) 351/1. — 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 50.
Onto the tyme [he] be owthir convict or quytt(4) 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 560.
He sould, for laik of verificatioun of his guiltynes haif gone quyte

4. Freed from (fra), relieved of, rid, quit (of something or someone undesirable or troublesome). Also to mak (another) quyte of or fra, to rid him of; to mak quyte (of), to get rid (of); (to be or to mak) quyte of (another's) cumber, also ill, trouble, to be rid of him; to be (mayd) quit of or fra, to be divorced from. Also without dependent construction.(1) c1420 Wynt. iv 2050.
Bot thai off Rome, in that dispyte, Yhit wes noucht off all scathys qwyte Ib. vi 1700.
As trewsown than wes in Scotland, All qwyt off that wes noucht Ingland Ib. viii 838.
We trowyd ws fra thir demandis qwyte c1475 Wall. xi 1042.
Thai ask no mar bot be quyt off your stryff 1585 Acts III 422/1.
That scho may … be frie and quytte fra thair forder cruelteis and oppressionis 1596 Dalr. I 141/7.
Throuch desyre of a priuate lyfe, and to be quyte of the glore of a king 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 350.
How is it, sir, that I cannot be quit of your bills, and your misleared cries?(2) 1502 Halyb. 269.
And to be quyt of hym in tym to cum I gaf hym a hayll quyttans and quhill I leif never to deill with hym c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 151/54.
And rownaris of fals lesingis. Allace, that courtis of noble kingis Of thame can nevir be quyte [: delyte] 1535 Stewart 24766. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 760.
Ȝeild ȝow … And, do ȝe not, … Scotland salbe quyte of ȝow 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6602. 1568 Buch. Indict. 37.
That the way to be quyte of the king … wes best to mowe ane actioun of diuorce aganis hym 1570 Sat. P. xviii 111. a1578 Pitsc. I 184/15.
Quyt Ib. 315/16.
Quyt Ib. 315/19.
Quytt 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 91.
And the said Katherine and Ambrose Gordoun … culd nocht be the space of twantie dayis, be quyitt of ane catt 1599 Elgin Rec. II 74.
Quhow is this that I can not be quhyt of ane mensworne tyke 1610 Crim. Trials II 328.
Quyte a1650 Row 298.
Yee will be well quyte of him c1650 Spalding I 43, 44, etc. 1661 Cramond Kirk S. 28 Aug.
And that he could not be quyte of him(3) c1420 Wynt. viii 792.
Thiddyr he send thame sawff-cwndyt Fra all dowtis to mak thame qwyt a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 46/105.
God mak ws quyte of all blasphemaris 1568–9 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 190.
To make her quyte of him 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I 166.
Ye ar evill trublit and dung with your husband, quhat will ye gif me and I sall mak yow quyt of him? Ib. 1607 Elphinstone Mun. 28.
If they may be rid and maid quyitte of suche of thair fellowis 1615 Bk. Islay 311.
I making it quyt of me and my kin c1650 Spalding II 7.
And so wes maid quyte of the soldiouris(4) ?1438 Alex. i 1360.
With ane sweit medicyne sall now Mak quyte of that that greuis ȝow c1475 Wall. vii 504.
The formast sone hym selff sesyt in hand, Maid quyt off hym(5) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 479.
Happyn thou to be hangit in Northumbir, Than all thy kyn ar wele quyte of thy cumbir 1535 Stewart 41572.
Promittit him … To mak him quyte sone of this Duncanis ill Ib. 46443.
Sensyne Scotland wes ay quite of thair cumber 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2113 (B).
Off that cummer I sall mak ȝou quyt 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 11.
Lat thea childer want the heidis; which sall … mak yow quite of thair cummer 1576 Orkney Oppress. 71. 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 282.
To owerthrow these traitours and mak the cuntrie quyte of thair trouble c1650 Spalding II 365.(6) 1563 St. A. Kirk S. in Misc. Maitl. C. III 307.
Jhon being examinat anent his desyr of mariage with ony other woman in cace he war partit and mayd quit of Margret his wyff Ib.
He confessis that Margret hes desyrit of hym … to be quit and partit fra hym and … at he wes desyrus to be qwyt of hyr(7) a1500 Henr. Fab. 527.
I hecht ȝow be my hand, sen ȝe ar quyte [: delyte, appetyte; Ch. he is quyte], … To get ane berne suld better claw oure breike — c1460 Regim. Princ. 11 (Fairf.).
Bot & the stryngis be nocht all trew … pul out & mak all qwyt [: wyt] & vtherris treu putt in thair steddis als tyt c1500 Crying of Play 124.
Amang thaim is bot tak & sla Cut thropillis and mak quyte

5. a. Free or released from (of), unburdened by, also without (sin or wickedness). a1400 Leg. S. x 20.
& sa wes Mathew mad rycht thane quyte, & Lewi a haly mane Ib. xxxiv 136.
Haffand rycht gret delyte Of thare synnis to be quyte c1420 Wynt. vii 337.
And that day Off all chargys scho yhald hyr qwyte And till the Creatoure hyr spyryt 1551 Hamilton Cat. 117.
And wald be quyt of it [sc. carnal desire] and can nocht a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 33/49.
God mak ws quyte of all herecie 1567 G. Ball. 74.
And als I pray Thé mak me quyte [: appetyte] Of fleschelie lust Ib. 113, 128.

b. Free (of or fra blame or reproach); unblamed, blameless.Also to get quyte.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 4319.
Fra blame than is the autore qwyte [: wryte] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 308/103.
And quyt of all suspitioun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3364.
And of all faults he thocht his wife was quite [: wite](2) c1475 Wall. vii 36.
Sa I be quytt, I rek nocht quhat yhe wrocht 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3531.
Gar the saikles get wyte, mak hir self clene and quyte [: wyte] a1605 Montg. Sonn. lxiv 7.
In conscience I am quyte By word or wryt(3) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4308.
Ȝit temp him anis agane: Gif ȝe get quyte than I forgiue ȝow plane

c. Free (of doubt). a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 361.
To gere thame of al dout quyt be, That thare wes nane to cum bot he

6. a. Forfeit or deprived of (something the loss of which is regretted); excluded from (of) (a possession or privilege). 1407 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 32.
Bot I … and all myn to be qwyt and excludyt of all rycht … partenand to the forsaid landys a1500 Quare Jel. 362.
But cheritee thus euirmore he levith … quhilk of hevin euery wicht beleuyth But of the blisse and of the fest is quyte [: habyte, writ] 1498 Acta Conc. II 158.
Decretis … that the sade Gelis aucht til haf the thrid of the proffittis of the sade fisching and orchard of Lasingtoune, and decernis hir qwyt of the thrid of the sade dowcot; … and as to the thrid part of the xx^ti merkis … clamyt be the sade Gelis … the Lordis decernis the sade Gelis qwyt thareof because [etc.] a1500 Lufaris Compl. 173.
Fortune … has … maid me both of hope and comfort quite [: delite] 1501 Acta Conc. MS X 91.
The said Jonet til be qwyt … of the fredome of the saidis landis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2065 (B).
Of all creddence now am I quyt [: dispyte] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5022.
Curst mot he be … That vs sa quyte of comfort hes maid clene Ib. 7872.
With the same sword into hir greit dispite Of baith his luggis belyue scho maid him quite a1568 Bann. MS 249a/6.
The bissyar to pleis the moir of ioy all quyt 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 911. 1596 Dalr. I 232/8.

b. Not possessed of, lacking (a desirable attribute). 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2161.
Breif buriall quair, of eloquence all quite [: imperfite, indite, wite, lite] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 103. 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 999.
Thocht of all cunning I be quyte [: delyte]

7. a. Done or made away with, lost. To mak quyte of, to do away with, dissipate, squander.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 527 (Ch.) (see 4 (7) above). a1568 Bann. MS 226a/57.
Bot scho cuvir me of cair, my confort is quyt [: plit, delyt, wyt, wryt, perfyt, dyt](2) a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 75/32.
Sum may be westouris and mak quyte of all

b. To ga quyte, to run into loss or ruin, to be done away with or lost. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (S.T.S.) lxxxiv 41 (B).
With wemen evill it gois all quyt [v.r. With women haill gois quyt now] for evir Quhilk sowld ws lerne fra subteill huris dissevir 1513 Doug. i Prol. 423.
Than all hys cuyr and crafty engyne gais quyte, Hys twelf ȝheris laubouris war nocht worth a myte

8. Recompensed, compensated, requited, for (of) a wrong. c1500 Fyve Bestes 262.
Than was this cok quyt of his legis pane