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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
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Quite, Quyt(e, Quit(t, v. Also: qwite, qwhite; quytt(e, qwyt(e, quhyt(e, quyit(e, quhyit, quyet; qwit, quhit(t, qwhit, queit; queat, quait; whit(e; (qut-). P.t. quit(t; quite, quyt(e, qwyt; quiet; quat(e, quatt(e, qwat(t, quait, quet, quott; quytit, -ed, quhyttit, quitted, queitted. P.p. quit(t, qwit, quhit; quite; quyt(e, quytt, quyite, qwyt(e, quyet; quat(e, quatt, qwat, quet, queit; quyt(t)it, -ed, quyited, quittit, -ed; (quithit); also Quat. [ME and e.m.E. quite(n (c 1250), quyte (Cursor M.), qwite, qwyte, also late north. ME and north. e.m.E. whyte, white, OF quiter, med. L. quitare, quietare; ME quitte (Cursor M.), quytte (a 1450), e.m.E. quit (1509), quyt, OF quitter (cf. ON kvitta, Sw. qvitta, Dan. kvitte), med. L. quittare (1216); p.t. ME quit (Minot), quitte (Chaucer, Trevista), e.m.E. quit, quyt(te, late ME quyte (c 1440), e.m.E. quyted (16th c.), quited, quighted, quitted (1606); p.p. ME and e.m.E. quit(te (Cursor M.), y)quyt(te (14–15th c.), quyte (1413), e.m.E. quited (1584), quitted (1609).]Appar. the more common pres. t. form throughout is that with the original long vowel, represented by the spellings quite, quyte, etc., but quit(t also occurs from an early date. The early forms of the p.t. are quyt(e, quite, and those of the p.p. quyt(e but also, more freq., quit(t, the latter also attested in early rhymes. The p.t. and p.p. forms quytted etc. and quate etc. occur only from the late 16th c. and are consequently not found for branch I, most senses of which appar. cease to be common (? or, in some cases, to exist at all) before the end of the 16th c. The quate, quat(t forms appear in authors from, or contexts referring to, most regions except the north east, but appar. chiefly in central Scotland and the south-west.

I. To repay, discharge by payment.

1. a. tr. To pay (another) back or out for (a wrong or injury).(1) 1375 Barb. ii 30.
And thocht, for-owtyn mar letting, For to qwyt hym his discoueryng c1400 Troy-bk. i 126.
Gif it happynis notht that we May qwyt hym this iniquite(2) c1420 Wynt. iii 263.
And to quyt [C. qwhit] hym lyl for lal Ib. ix 1507 (see Lill for Lall phr.).

b. To make (a person) due return for (a benefit, etc.); to reward (a person) for (something).pres. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 2152.
I may nocht quyte ȝow this bounte, Bot gif I may on ony wyse, I think to quyte ȝow ȝour frenchyse Ib. 2904.
I sall thé quyte euer ilk deill Ib. 10640.
Now mon thow quyte him his trauale c1420 Wynt. iv 899.
For-thi, yhe qwyt [C. qwhit] ws this kyndnes c1475 Wall. x 945. a1500 Sir Eger 2258. 15.. Clar. iii 815.
Quyte(2) c1400 Troy-bk. i 158.
God qwyt it hym for-thy a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1006.
God quyte ȝow, sir, ȝour tail Ib. 1344.p.t. 1492 Myll Spect. 279/21.
Or how quyte Cresseid hir trew luffar Troyelus his lang seruice in luf quhen [etc.] 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 169.
Vncourtuuslie I quite thé [Rannoch] thy hyrep.p. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 1007.
Bot quhou has thu, Sancte Nicholas, Quyt me the honour at I dyd For hyme 1456 Hay I 140/15.
Ay quhill he have payit him and quytt hym kyndenesse(b) a1400 Leg. S. vi 125.
That thi trawel sal be thé quet [: it] Ful wele

c. To pay (another) back of or for something. a1500 Sir Eger 2300.
If ever ye come where that I dwel, I shal quite you of your travel a1500 Prestis of Peblis 446.
God and Sanct Martyne quyte ȝow of ȝour tail 1535 Stewart 38450.
Tha faithles folkis for that same darg and deid, Wes quit rycht weill sone efter to thair meid

2. With non-personal obj. a. To pay back or avenge (a wrong).pres. c1400 Troy-bk. i 129.
Some othire frendes per aventure That eft may here of this iniure, May qwyt it wele ynough sume day For ws c1420 Wynt. ii 1449.
On set purpos for to qwyt [C. qwhite] Wytht gret revengeans, that dyspyte Ib. v 3467.
Qwyte [C. qwhit] Ib. viii 2016, 2112. 1535 Stewart 16515. 1570 Leslie 247.
Thair was sum … that preissed to waikin auld deidlie feaddes, and to quyt querrellis, thinking than to be tyme most convenientp.t. c1475 Wall. viii 520.
Bot Wilȝam Wallace quyt our quarell weillp.p. c1460 Consail Vys Man 344.
Strik nocht ay furth thi fellony … It may be quit thow wat nocht quhen a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 586.
Quhill this querrell be quyt I cover neuer in quert

b. To make a return for, pay back, requite (a gift or boon), to return (a kindness or favour). Also absol.For further examples see Kindnes n. 5.pres. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 3565.
I haue the kingis … wage tane, God gif me grace I may heir quyte his layn a1500 Henr. Fab. 1548.
Bot gif I quit sumpart thy gentilnes Thow did to me Ib. 1557.
Cum help to quyte ane gude turne for ane vther 1585 Waus Corr. 342.
And God spair my lyeff, I sall quhyt your l. gud weillabsol. c1475 Wall. xi 880.
He … Send to the erll and thankit him largele Hecht for to quyt quhen he sic cace mycht sep.p. ?1438 Alex. ii 7006.
Now doubill-fald it suld be quyte Bot thy scarsnes hes reft thé it a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 260.
A Yule feast may be quit at Pasche

c. To make up for (a failure or lapse). a1500 Sir Eger 2396.
But lawfully, I may that quite

d. To repay (money owed). c1420 Ratis R. 550.
And he had lent thar pennis thre That neuir thai agan quit suld bee

e. ? To provide by way of reward. a1500 Sir Eger 2258.
And ye shal have none other meeds, But I shal quite you all your deeds

3. a. To repay (a person or his action or behaviour) with (a certain return or reward).pres. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 148/54.
With sum rewaird we mane him quyt againe a1585 Maitl. Q. 146/137.
Na na confide his clemence will not quyte [: syte] Sic sobernes with sic seueritie Ib. 158/153.
Quyite a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xix 14.
She … Sall quyt thee with a better turnep.p. a1500 Sir Eger 1565.
And he hath quite him with another, That might have been that strakes brother 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi 23.
That paragon of trew nobilitie … Sould have bene quyte with moir fidelitie a1585 Maitl. Q. 159/162.
Alace let not trew amitie Be quyite with so greit crueltie

b. To pay back or pay out, to reward or to avenge oneself on (a person).pres. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 223.
Remembir … Quhat may thay do to thair pairty contrare: Thay may weill quyt and ouirthraw thame at all 1513 Doug. i ix 37.
To quyte [Ruddim. quite] thé, rendring ganand thankis rycht [etc.] a1540 Freiris Berw. 199 (B).
I sall him quyt, and I leif half a ȝeir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3557.
Bot at the last I wait he will hir quyte [: dispyte, perfyte, wyte] a1568 Bann. MS 250a/14, 256a/8.p.t. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 156/180 (Asl.).
So knychtlie he him quyt [: wpsit, bit, spit; B. quitt : vpsitt, bitt, spitt] 1513 Doug. iv xii 25.
My spows … Fra hym byreft hys tressour, and quyt [Ruddim. quit] him weillp.p. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 157/208 (Bann.).
Now haif I quitt [A. quyt] thé, quod Mahoun 1535 Stewart 56302.
Sa tha war quyte agane in thair awin hand

c. To repay, supply a good return to (a person, for expense or trouble); to ‘meet’, ‘cover’, justify (cost or trouble expended).In impers. construction. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 456.
Euir hald spyis … , Mak thairon cost, it sall thé quyte treuly 1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) The Author to the King p. 1.
We call experience a good mistris … ; but as it is in our Scottish proverb, it seldome quits the cost 1685 Nat. Reg. Archives (Scotl.) Rep. (Ewart Lib., Dumfries) 33.
The passes are procured … at 2 pennies scots the peece, and the receavers reimburse them all a plack a pass which will quitt the cost

d. absol. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. xii 19.
The Lord sais, To me veriance, and I sal quite

4. a. To repay or reward (meritorious action) to the performer (const. dative pron.). a1400 Leg. S. vi 215.
Mak furth myn wark, & trevly trew, That thi trawel sal be thé quet Ful wele, fra thu haf endit it!

b. To quite (another) his meid or to quite (him) merite. = sense 3 b.For examples see Mede n.¹ 1 (2) and Merite n. 1 (1).

5. To discharge (a debt), fulfill (a promise or undertaking) or pay (a due). Also absol.In the p.p. passing into Quite adj. 2 e. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 763.
That thu as lele man wald quyt me The gud that I suld creance thé Ib. xl 268.
Sancte Martyne … that than ded wes & quyt the deit of alkine flesche Ib. xlii 256.
Til scho of ded had quyt the tol c1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
That yhe gerre quit owre obligacion of xl li. fra the Erle of Northumbre be Myd somer c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 66.
For all honest det sulde be Qwyt wyth possibylyte Ib. v 1898.
As wemen … Hechtys … mare Than efft to qwyt [C. qwhit] off wyll thai are 1456 Hay I 70/28.
For to quyte thair dett to thair Lord of the grete charge thai have tane of haly kirk a1500 MS Rawl. Qb. 4 fol. 2b.
And for I may nocht this det [sc. of sin] quyte, Lord that I aw forgif me it 1513 Doug. Direct. 138.
Suffir me borrow this a word at the leist, Thar with to quyte my promys and beheste 1530 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 112.
Jhon Balte to pay to Robert Smyth xviij d. & all the laif of the gudis betuix thaim to be quit 1545 Reg. Cupar A. II 32.
All costis and chargis ordinar and extraordinar be thame beand quyt and outtred 1560–1 Bishop Bothwell in M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 69.
Witschauff ane servand apon my expensis, and I sall quyt it, to pas to Paslay quhair he is 1652 Ancram & Loth. Corr. I xxiv.
And I am chayned to this place … till I quyte the score. I have not yet payed a pennyabsol. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 377.
Thai borow rady and quitis nocht, And wald neuir pay the thing thai bocht 1600-1610 Melvill 7.
I fand … that it was guid to len and giff to God, and nocht stand for his honour to quyt whatsumevir, for he wald repey twyse als guid

6. In phrases and proverbs, in various above senses.(1) 1375 Barb. ii 438.
And ȝeyt may fall … Quyt thaim corn but sum-dele we sall a1500 Henr. Fab. 1557 (Bann.).
Cum help to quyt a gud turne for a nothir(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1599 (Bann.).
Oft tyme is sene a man of small degre Hes quyt a commoun [H. kinbute, Ch. turne], baith for gude and ill, As lordis has done rigour, or grace him till 1558-66 Knox II 10.
He knew that he wald not gett him in the skirmissing becauis he knew he was bot a cowart, bot it mycht be that he sould quyte him a commoun ather in Scotland or ellis in France a1578 Pitsc. I 189/12.
Thair was soume of them werie sorrie thinkand that he wald quyt them ane commone gif he leiffit Ib. 280/13.
Thinkand that it was tyme to quitt commoneis quhene the prince was ȝoung Ib. 391/16. 1587 Carmichael Etym. 5.
Reddere talionem, to quite a common Id. Prov. No. 1303.(3) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 726.
Quhou he had hyre in gret daynte, & hou he quytis tham thare med c1420 Wynt. vi 963.
He … qwyt thaim swa thare warysowne That wald have done hym this tresowne 1513 Doug. xii vi 104.
Diomed Ane other fasson hes hym quyt his meid For sa stowt ondyrtakyn 1570 Sat. P. xiv 99.(4) 1571 Sat. P. xxvi 78.
Bot puneis all tha [pr. the] quhilk ye knaw vnclene Of outher blude, & quyte thame for thair meids(5) c1420 Ratis R. App. iv 7.
Luf most thi God … And for ilk ynch He wyll thé quyte a spane a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 22.
And [men] will not quite sometimes (as the proverb is) ‘an inch of their will for a span of their thrift’

7. To redeem. = Quite-out v.Also Inquyte v. 1584 Boyd Fam. P. No. 67 (12 Jan.).
To lauchtfullie redeime lous and quyte fra the said Matthow all and haill the landis abone specifiet 16.. Reg. Panmure xxxix.
Thereafter he began to quit and relieve piece and piece parts of his estate

8. To quite … out. a. = Quite-out v. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 22 (B).
Gyf ony has land layd in wed he may qwyte [A. quyt] it oute qwhen he wyl Ib.
And gyf he wyl nocht qwyte it oute in thre dais it is leful to be salde Ib. c. 23.
And gyfe thai wyl qwyte thaim [lands] oute or by thaim

b. To obtain the release of (a person) by payment, to buy (him) out.As a captive out of captivity by payment of ransom or an engaged person by payment of a penalty. 1456 Hay I 181/10.
Gif a man be tane apon ane otheris sauf condyt … quhethir, in that cas, he aw to pay his ransoun, and quyte him out on his awin costis 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 33.
For I haif na quhite thried to quyte him out

II. To exonerate; to forgive.

9. a. To exonerate, absolve, acquit (a person, of or fra a charge). Variously const.Also, to absolve or dismiss (a charge).In the p.p. passing into Quite adj. 3.(1) pres. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 66 (A).
Bot thai sal quyt thaim lauchfully of the chalange 1494 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 56.
Quytand the said Michel … of ony s[t]rublans and fyndand the said Gavane in the falt 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 687.
Set of thir pointis of crime now on me laid I may me quite 1524 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 31.
The inqueist findis that thai ar saikles of the kow & quittis thaim of the deid of hir 1525 Ib. 35.
Quhit 1534 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 294b.
Quhittis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7538.
Quha can hir quyte, sic ane mater on bring? Ib. 3516. c1575 Balfour Pract. 155.
Gif ony man oblissis him never to call nor persew ane uther man nor his servandis in ony actioun or cause and quytis and dischargis him and thame thairof 1620 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 103b (5 Jan.).
[He said] that he wald quyt all men off that plaid except Henrie Birniep.t. 1524 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 27.
The inqueist quet thir thre personis of ony bludp.p. 1563 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 1 May.
Quitt 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 540.
Consultatioun [was] takin how … he mycht be quytt of the murther 1667 Stitchill Baron Ct. 49.
And judicially absolved assoilȝied quyte and freed fra the said blood aledged comitted be him 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i vi 18 (1678) 51.
Where the party calumniat is called, accused, and quit of the crime of treason(2) pres. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 156.
Thai luf nocht to … Mak gud man ill, na ill man qwyt a1500 Quare Jel. 249.
Quhom sall I awite For hie nor low is non estate to quyte 1524 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 23.
The inqueist findis him ane gud man & quhittis him 1525 Ib. 29.
The inqueist can quit nowder of thir parteis 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 544.
Sic hyreling belly goddis … I will not quyte in deid, bot thay Vnto this ordour will consent 1583–4 Reg. Privy C. III 634.
[He shall summon a sufficient number of assize to] quite or fyle [M^cCrerik] 1681 Cloud of Witnesses 92.
They have caused many poor things to erre from the way of God … O can we quite so many godly ministers. We dow not quite themp.t. 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 202.
Nouchtwithtstanding the said Thomas schiref deput qwyt him self tharuponep.p. ?1438 Alex. ii 3305.
Quhen he had quit him … That he suld with his body do His will 1494 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 55.
Johne Smytht fwnd strublar of Maghe Grant … the said Maghe quyte 1524 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 24.
& Elin Symson quhit 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 158.
Albeit an inqueist for feir of deith had slichtly quit him c1575 Balfour Pract. 266.
Gif he be ather fylit or quytit 1576 Orkney Oppress. 49.
Quha that failȝeis to be quyt becummis convict in ane domeraw 1612 Inverness Rec. II 88.
If ether sereff [etc.] … sall suffer any person guiltie to be quyited and cleared by assise 1655 Instruct. Justices Peace 5.
Quitted(3) 1499 Douglas Chart. 171.
To delyuer … a gentilman of Scotland worth the somme, and to aunswere to the same, whitand or filand c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 927.
I creat ȝow to condampne or to quite, My iuge deput 1605 Crim. Trials II 468.
Gif thai find nocht cleirlie, thay can iustlie quyte(4) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 192 (Asl.).
For theif and rewar ȝe will be aduocate, Quhilk is mare syn … Than to quyte the principale actioun 1576 Douglas Corr. 207.
Which billis the Larde [of Mowe] hathe qwit his men of … and further [the Lard of Sesforthe] sayd he wold nether qwit nor fyll those billis

b. To clear (another, oneself, also one's cattle or one's household) by one's own or another's compurgatory oath, of, for or fra an accusation.See also Lawfest n. and Lawricht-aith(e n. for several examples from the records of Shetland. 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 118.
Wil Peblis denyit that he auch noyther tyl hym gold na siluer. Than Wil Bullou bad hym qwyt hym. Than the balyeis chardit hym to tak a nechbur on ilk hand onsuspekit and swer [etc.] 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II 25.
Quhilk wald nocht quit thameself be thair aith 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. XVI (Jam.).
To quyt thaimselfis for the bying of rocht leddyr 1576 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 18.
That all tennentis … quite thame with tua famous personis vnsuspect … of … the woodis within the said baillierie 1580 Inverness Rec. I 279.
Quha refusit … to queit himself fra the said blude 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 75.
For disobedience … for nocht quyting hir guidis of the slachter of Nicole Smythis kowe

c. To free (a person) from blame by justifying his actions, to vindicate. a1570-86 Maitl. F. 172/105.
And than sall quyt thé in thy stryff … thy gud lyf

d. To forgive (a person) (of a grudge). a1568 Scott xxvi 75.
For, be thay courtas, thay will quyt me, And, gif thay crab, heir I quyt clame it 1570–1 Canongate Ct. Bk. 325.
The saidis juges … ordanis thame to quite utheris of all strife debait or rankour of harte

To pardon e. a wrong-doer, f. the wrong.e. 1641 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 191.
The saids baillies … considering the said John his present indigencie and apparent repentance … have frielie quat and forgiven him, for the soume of iiii lib.f. c1590 J. Stewart 198/86.
Sen thow declairit hes the verray trewth I quyt thy mis 1647 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 113.
The saidis taksmen … hes frielie quatt and foirgiven anything they have lost 1664 Glasgow Bonnetmakers 31.
The said Jon Walker present deacone hes quatt & past the said wrong

III. To give up, let go, release, leave.

10. To concede or abandon, also, to give up (to another) (a plea at law or a cause). 1429 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 10.
The forsaide Wilham … all accyons … fra the day of the makyn of thir presentis, qwites, and … qwiteclemis for ever 1492 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 32.
All thair actionis by passit quit and clarit to the v day of Januer 1559 Q. Kennedy in Misc. Wodrow Soc. 273.
I quyte ȝou the haill cause without farther disputatioun 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 54.
Wes nan sa stout durst tak the steir on hand, Sa had the cause bene quat, wer not for shame a1585 Polwart Flyt. 793 (T).
Quyt the querrell or be schevin Ib. 50. a1585 Maitl. Q. 122/125.
Or ȝeild to thame and quyte the argument 1641 Sc. Hist. Rev. IX 365.
Thy pick-thanks each one Are all to the rout, and have quat their cause c1650 Spalding I 150.
At last … they conclude to give it over and to quyte the caus [sc. the royalist cause]

11. To disclaim possession of or connection with, to disavow, disown, renounce.(1) 1551–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 382.
Gyff I hayff offendit, than I quhyit all 1580 Hume Promine 32.
That I sall curs my cairfull catiue cace, Sine quite this quair, and neuer sall awow it 1602 Colville Paraenese 43.
If no vther thing can moue the defendars of this … to quyit and renunce the same 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 144.
If this be the way of Christ … I quite all skill of the way to salvation 1638 Henderson Serm. 29.
If it had not been als hard for you to haue quat it as to quite the Articles of Perth c1650 Spalding II 290.
Quyting and disclameing the covenant and suche service he had wndertakin a1681 Cargill Lecture & Sermon 5.
& till that be quate again, it will never be set forward(2) c1590 Fowler I 42/155.
Whome I did quyte and did resing to be his lauchefull wyiff a1650 Row 326.
Seing ye have quat Christ and his cause 1658 Sc. Ant. IX 50.
To quyt God and renunce hir baptisme 1667 Highland P. II 46.
Two of Glengarrie's natives quho had qwat Glengarrie and submitted to him 1680 Lauder Observes 21.
Till first he … quite his Popish quean, Popish brother

12. a. To cease to use or practise; to give up (an occupation, activity, undertaking.)pres. 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 129.
Quhair scho befoir with strange termis was offendit, I promeist hir of honestie to quyte thame a1585 Polwart Flyt. 37 (T).
And caus thé, cur, that worklum quyt a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxix 56.
Sik blissing in kissing I quyt till we tua meit 1619 Misc. Bann. C. I 235.
The … professors of this aige, who having these psalmes and vther meanes, hes gained so litle by them for ther … edification that they are readier to quyte them then to keip them ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 21.
Being … prest, … that his majestye wold qwyte episcopacye 1670 Inverness Rec. II 243.
Then … they are to quytt sitting at the cross 1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 41.
Christ beginning his work in a land … will ay be at the fore-end of it, or he quite it 1676 Conv. Burghs IV 561.
That any frieman … actually queiting ther trades and take themselves to merchandizeing c1679 Kirkton Hist. 363.
To quite this purposep.t., p.p. 1635 Sutherland Bk. II 160.
My nephewe … haid a greatt mynd to hawe quatt his buick and to hawe followit warres a1650 Row 254.
So he quat his ministrie, and silenced himself 1661 Kennedy-Lauderdale Lett. 17.
Its true I once resolved so … but … quiet it

b. To cease to frequent or keep company with; to leave, go away from, quit (a person or place). Also transf.(1) a1500 Sir Eger 2812.
That I all company shall quite [: wit v.] a1568 Scott xi 53.
Do ȝe the contrair, heir I quyt ȝow [: wryt ȝow, wyt (= blame) ȝow] Tressoun a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 610 (Wr.).
‘To pluck yon lustie cherrie, loe!’ Quoth he, ‘and quyte the slae’ Ib. 719. Id. Misc. P. xviii 45.
He … quat his auld acquentance quyt c1650 Spalding I 295.
He had quyttit the company of the Gordouns … and cled him self with the Erll Marschall Ib. 54.
Quytit 16.. Peden Serm. ii 25.
Whenever the storm began to blow upon our Lord's face, all quat his back for the most parttransf. 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 74.
Some quiting prophets and apostles, Thinks best to plead the cause by postills(2) 1596–7 R. Bruce in Calderwood V 566.
I had rather have quyte my naturall soyle for ever 1644 Aberd. Council Lett. II 381.
A great part quhairof hes alreddie removed thameselffis and daylie mae and mae ar quytting the toune 1646 Ib. III 45.
Quhilk … hes maid mony of the lenneris quyt the toune 1655 Fugitive Poetry II xxviii 4/88.
He quott the field and went to God 1667 Highland P. II 9.
He being advertised he did quite Kenlochu and came … to the Laich of Loch Broom c1690 Bk. Pasquils (1868) 180.
He … thrie kingdoms quat For France tuo months befor he would doe that Ib. 183.
E're she quate the place

c. intr., const. with. 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 284.
To give men up to seek their own things, and so easily to quit with His concernments Ib. 394.
Some with one idol, and some with another, which they will not quit with 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 18 Sept.
And try if they would quytt with any relation they had to the said Mr. John Hamilton

d. To cease to concern oneself with, to dispose of, settle. 1561 Cal. Sc. P. I 535.
After, the mater wes sa quytt that evin ane number of the same … wotit frely for the abolishement of the messe

13. To cease to defend or give support to, to abandon, desert. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1179 (Wr.).
Gars Courage quite them als 1643 Melville Corr. 94.
The enemie … qwat the precinct of his house to our mercie c1650 Spalding I 28.
To quyte him who had mareit his sister, so long as he wes law frie, he could not with his honour 1667 Argyll-Lauderdale Lett. 76.
I will not quite my old uncle for my new

14. To give up, relinquish, let go, lose, a. non-material things, b. material things, c. one's apprentice.a. 1585 James VI Ess. 9.
O Macedon, … The monarks all to thee shall quite their place c1590 Fowler II 164/2.
Bot quhen the mater cumes to a battell … , it sickeneth and quyteth all manhiede to the adversare 1587-99 Hume 42/31.
Quha wald not … All worldly wealth and glore renunce to haue his health againe? The bewtifull wald lose his hew, the strang wald quite his strength 1600-1610 Melvill 9.
Giff it haid nocht pleasit God to … get me the soum I sould delyver at the first term, I wald haiff bein forcit to quait the blok againe, and left the purchas 1643 Declaration Earle Lindsey 13.
Seeing the kingdom of Scotland was to quit their own peace 1611-57 Mure II 12/338.
Thou art a witnesse false, and strives to move Our prince to quite his ancient kingdome's loue c1705 Nimmo Narr. 59.
Till … she qwat all hopes and then the Lord was a present helpe in her extremetieb. c1590 J. Stewart 67/90.
Sum quyts his sourd … And sum abiects thair helm and harneist veid 1655 Dunferm. Kirk S. 45.
She was forced to quyte hir plaid and run awayc. 1632 St. A. Baxter Bks. 94.
And that na breither … sall aggrie to quyt or give over his prenteis

d. To let go an or one hoof (of something worth holding to, esp. truth). Also intr., to quite with an hoof.See also Hoove n. and *Hoof n. for further examples. 1681 Cloud of Witnesses 99.
They will quite with life and liberty, before they quite with an hoof of truth 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 78.
Moses's spirit who would not quit to Pharaoh a hair or hoof of that which belonged to the children of Israel Ib. 483.

e. To release (one's) grips (of). 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 51.
None is able … to pluck thé out of Christs hands, and he will not quite his grips for one that is weaker then himself 1666 Carstairs Lett. 159.
She often saying she dear not queat gripes of him

f. To take leave of (one's senses).But in the Wyntoun quot. perh. rather to be taken as Quite adv. c1420 Wynt.iv 1619 (C).
Sa withe radnes was ourtane And out of thar wit sa qwyte That thai war but presse discomfyte 1655 Gunn Traquair Ch. 32.
[All papist friends were removed … except one] who hath quit of her senses and is come the length of coming to the church

15. a. To dispense with, do without (some desideratum). c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 900.
The copie clene I quite it is sa skant 1674 Red Bk. Grandtully II 218.
And I verylie believe, Sir, ye shall rather chuse to quite as take them [sc. gold buttons] by reasone of their dearth, tho … others payes no less

b. ? To make over for payment, to sell. c1650 Red Bk. Grandtully II 144.
To maik ȝow quytt Burnbank better chepe then ȝow bocht itt 1706 Rothesay Par. Rec. 205.
And what was the lowest price he could allow himselfe to quite it [a mortcloth] for to the Session

16. To give up or resign, usually voluntarily, a claim or entitlement to, or possession of (a property, right, office, etc.).(1) pres. a1605 Montg. Sonn. li 12.
Suld feble I, for feir, my conqueis quyt? 1600-1610 Melvill 71.
To quyt that decreit and forgiff it 1612 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 208.
That he sall quitt his possessioun 1619 Black Bk. Taymouth 443.
We heir thair is mony slim amongis thame [sc. ministers], that or thay quyte the bannok thay will quyte a gude conscience 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 208.
They wilbe forceit to unplenische thair rowmes and quyt thair stoiris c1630 Scot Narr. 231.
Ministers deserting the cause of God, … quyting the liberties of the Kirk Ib. 143. 1639 Johnston Diary Ia 64.
We heard that the king yet wold never quyte bishops with limitation bot wold quyte his crowne before he quyte them all 1640 Baillie I 246.
Quyteing 1657 Balfour Ann. I 200.
Causses the Lord of the Iles quhyte all his right to the said earldome of Rosse and Iles Ib. II 181.
Quyte 1657 Conv. Burghs III 456.
Quyt 1668 Dunkeld Presb. I 204.
To present him to the viccaradge at Mr. Lawes removing … he quyting the said ane hundreth punds a1686 Turner Mem. 50.
They obliged many officers, to … quite a third part of their pay voluntarilie Ib. 68.
To lay down armes and quite their power in civill and militarie affaires 1693 Conv. Burghs IV 179.
Quyetp.t. 1600-1610 Melvill 5.
Bot I quyt all … and … delyverit him my pices and rights of vicarage and stipend(b) 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 95.
Wallace … envie did force to yield Up his government: To Perth then came, And … quatte the same 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 313.
He … quait his chairge in the armey 1663 Lamont Diary 162.
The Earle of Crawfort, who qwat his chairge because of episcopacy c1692 Monument in Haddington to Mr. Walter Paterson.
Quate(c) c1650 Spalding I 255.
And he no sooner quytit the admiralitie bot the Erll of Warvick … mellit with the samen officep.p. (a) 1555–6 Irons Leith II 603.
And confessit to have sauld, anallied, quittit [pr. quithit] and transferrit and be thir presentis sellis, analies, quytclames and transferis [pr. transferts] to the said lady … his superioritie of … Leyth(b) 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxxi.
The annuel that wos auchtand to the Lard of Balfour … wos quat be Balfour 1649 Justiciary Cases III 800.
Iff the pannell wald have quat his possessione of the hous 1653 Argyll Synod II 34.
That the Laird of Ardkinglasse … hath before the synod quate for the use of the kirk such tithes as [etc.] 1672 Edinb. B. Rec. X 135.
They have quat the foir seat they now possesse 1673 Cramond Kirk S. II 5 Jan.
They … have freely given, disponed and quatt their right and interest to the said two laich seats(c) 1661-88 Lauder Notices Affairs I 41.
His goodfather would have quite his land sooner than [etc.](2) pres. 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 8.
I think it best Ye quyte me this & take you all the rest c1590 Fowler I 43/163. 1600-1610 Melvill 5.
The said Mr. James quyttes and resignes the … stipend, with the kirk of Anstruther, gleib and manse, to his fellow-laborar Mr. Robert Dury Ib. 8.
To dispone and quyt the right of the teind fisches to the paroche … for … thre thowsand marks 1633 Misc. Spald. C. III 79.
Quhairof he quyttis the profitt to his majestie 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 66.
If ye require it at our hands, We'll quite to you both lives and landsp.t., p.p. c1590 Fowler II 84/37.
That King Loyes quyted Romanye to Pape Alexander and the kingdome of Naples to Spane for escheueing of the weirs 1706 Reid Autob. 64.
He came and quitted the farm to my Lord Cardross(b) 1655 Rothesay B. Rec. 6.
He friely of his awin accord hes quat to the brugh a band of tuenty merks 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 282.
Efter compt and reckining … all clages and clames wes quyt be Thomas Caldclewch to Broadwoodscheill 1662 Lamont Diary 155.
Quat 1668 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 13.
That he wes not wairnit from that land nor put from it be no law nor force, but onlie simplie quat it unto David Dalrymple 1684 Lauder Notices Affairs II 482.
Quate 1685 Argyll Synod II 181.
Whereas Mr. Ewin Cameron needs a collegue and that he quatt under his hand to the presbyterie as much maintenance as may maintaine another minister

b. To relinquish entitlement to (the fulfilment of an obligation) by acknowledging that it has been fulfilled. 1398 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 5.
& of the forsayde oxen I hald me payd and qutys [sic in transcr.] the resayfing of thaim 1522 Dundee B. Ct. I fol. 86 (1 April).
The clame of ix s. vj d. … referrit to his ath and he has quyt hym that he vnderstandis that pait … quharfor he is absoluit tharof

17. To concede or remit (to a person) a debt or due payment. Variously const.(1) pres. 1629 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 129.
The said Thomas wes content to quit him the pick for the said beir 1630 Kirkcaldy Presb. 14.
Unles he wad quytt him [£3, 5 s.] whilk the said Mr. Alexander is addebtit to him 1667 Stitchill Baron Ct. 46. 1675 Cunningham Diary 65.
The compt … being 97 lb. 6 s. 2 d. short on my part, and he quiting that to me 1685 Acts VIII 490/1, 2.
[The king etc.] discharge the fermorers of his majestys custom … from quitting or abaiting any of the said duty … and if it be discovered that they shall quite or abate any [etc.] 1687 Stirling B. Rec. II 51.
They have quat and heirby quytes and gives doune to ilk ane of the saids petitioners tua moneths of the forsaid yeares tack duetiep.t. 1597 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 98.
He quhyttit me only the said 8 lib. for a recompance of my skayth 1703 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI 121.
Queitted(b) 1611 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 74.
Androw Guthre litster quet me 7 ellis grene clayth litting and I quet him my travellis seikand out his fatheris seasing 1630 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 6 May.
He qwatt him the foirsaidis haill particularis sowmesp.p. 1642 Falkirk Baron Ct. 26 Nov.
And the said James Squyre his vnlaw being quet to him, he actit … himselff that [etc.] 1644 Glasgow B. Rec. II 69.
The counsall hes not onlie quyet them the soume … awand be tham … but also [etc.] 1715 Stirling B. Rec. II 353.
Item allowed to William Cowane, tacksman of the town's customs, which was quate and given down to him for the loss sustained at the bridge(2) 1622-6 Bisset I 40/3.
Quhilkis [payments] we have quytted in considderratioun of the foirsaidis and hes dischargit and discharges thame quyte of the samin 1648 Inverness Rec. II 201.
[The] provest declarit … that all he obteinit of the supperplus of the foirsaid sowme … wes simplie aucht hundreth merkis for the quhilk he did queit all the rest 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 265.
Quatt 1686 Glasgow B. Rec. III 389.
Their fynes were quatt

18. a. To release (another) (from (of) an obligation or contract, or a debt).(1) 1577 Douglas Corr. 225.
Houping that for the Lard of Mowis daylie hard vsing of yow … I will nocht clerlie quyt him of tham 1600-1610 Melvill 9.
For haiffand the town of Anstruther bund … to me for twa hounder marks yeirlie … and the gentle men to landwart for a hounder, I quat tham bathe for thrie yeirs' dewtie, viz. nyne hounder marks Ib. 430.
Manie an, he quat full liberallie, That was by hasard put to povertie 1622 Argyll Rentals I.
Quat Johne Dow McLawchlane of the landis of Crossag 1663 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 206.
Quyt 1665 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 16 Jan.
To deal with him in a fair way … and to quytte him of all the gold pennyes he hes alreadie reseaved(2) 1661 Cramond Kirk S. 29 Dec.
The said Jon … declared that Jonet Adamson had quyted him of all promise of mariage Ib.
That the said Jonet … had quate him before witnes Ib.
Quat 1690 Ib. III 27 Feb.
Quatt

b. To relieve or discharge (another) from (an order to supply something). c. To give up or dispense with (something supplied by regular order). 1668 Stirling B. Rec. II 6.
They have therefore quat the said Robert from continowing any longer in sending any moe newes letteres … to this town Ib. marg.
Newes letteres and gazets quat

d. In p.p. Quit to be, relieved of one's post as. c1650 Spalding I 241.
Aluayis he is quyt to be canonist, and is chosin ciuilist