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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Saboth, Sab(b)oth(e, -aoth(e, -ath(e, Sab(b)ot, n. Also: sabbaotht, -oithe, -eth, sabouth, sabthe, sabat, sab^t. [ME and e.m.E. sabaz pl. (c1230), sabadt (Cursor M.), sabat (Ayenbite), sabot, saboth (Wyclif), sabotte (a1450), sabbot (1509), sabbath, -oth (Shakesp.), late OE sabat, OF sabbat (late 12th c. in Larousse), L. sabbatum; also ME (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. sabaoth by confusion with the Biblical (Lord (God) (of)) Sabaoth: see Sabot.]

1. The Jewish sabbath; the seventh day of the week kept as a day of rest and religious observance by the Jews. a1400 Leg. S. ii 997.
Sustene our lacht agan hym … For bath our sabbot & fest-day He forcis for to put away c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xii 2.
Lo, thi discipilis dois that thing that is nocht leefful to tham to do in sabotis [P. sabatis] Id. Ib. 5.
The sabattis Id. Ib. 10.
The sabot Id. Luke vi 1 marg.
The haly dayes that immediatlye followit the hie sabbaotht wer called the secunnd sabbates amangis the Jewes a1561 Norvell Meroure 9b.
That the eterne purpose Of the great sabbothe and the great repose Shulde be confirmed 1562-3 Winȝet I 28/23.
And gif he abolissis with vs the saterday … quhat hes he by the consent of Godis Kirk to sanctifie ony day of the vii, and not to labour al the seuin dayis—the sext day, because it is sua commandit, and the sabbaoth, because it is abolissit be the Euangel? 1580 Cath. Tr. 37/20.
The sounday in place of the sabaothe aucht to be keiped

2. Since the Reformation, applied, esp. in the Reformed Church of Scotland, to the Christian Sunday, observed as a day of worship and abstention from work and other secular activities. a. As a proper noun, only in sing., with and without the def. art.For comment and further examples see Lord n. 34 a, also Prophane v. (3), Prophanar n. (2), Prophanatio(u)n(e n., etc.(1) 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III 107.
The prentissis [etc.] … ar of mynd vpoun Sounday nixt to mak convocatioun [etc.] … nocht regarding the pvnisment thretnit … vpoun the braikaris of the saboth Ib. 112.
Yisterday eftirnone being the saboth of the Lord 1564–5 Treas. Acc. XI 343.
The violatioun of the sabboth halding mercattis in kirkis, adulterie [etc.] 1597 Reg. Privy C. V 383.
Perseveirand in thair wicked interprise (prophaning the halie sabboth) 1597 St. A. Kirk S. 837.
That … na baxter nor tavernour hald furth juigis of wyne, aill nor bread on the sabboth 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 64.
Annabill Rodman … fechter vith Sibbie Forgie … on the saboth 1625 Lanark Presb. 4.
Prophaners of the sabbothe in fetching hame a maypole 1648 Stirling B. Rec. I 194.
Sabothe 1651 Boharm Kirk S. 25 May.
His brak of the saboth(b) 1569 Ordour Excomm. in Knox VI 453.
Commoun contempt of the ordor of the Church, breaking of the sabbath, and such like 1593 Perth Kirk S. in J. P. Lawson The Book of Perth 211. 1628 Linlithgow B. Rec. 8 Feb.
The great break of the sabbath be the cordineris in ganging to landwart … willages with thair schoone to be sauld thair 1642 Kirkcaldy Presb. 225.
[That] no schipps … that sallbe in saife harbours sall louse or transport themselfs ellswhere, bot sall rest the sabbath 1647 Cupar Presb. 106.
For the breiche of the sabbathe in thressing corne 1654 Lamont Diary 67, etc.
Mar. 26, being the sabath 1656 Moray Synod 120.
For the better keeping of the sabbathe 1681 Stair Inst. ii iv §60.
The solemnizing of the marriage to be … on a particular day, which ought not to be the sabbath(c) 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 260.
Profanation of the sabbeth(d) 1669 Meikle Old Session Bk. 85.
That they wold not prophain … the sab^t(2) 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 31 Jan.
Convict of brack of sabboth 1629 Ib. II 5 Aug.
Delait for brak of sabboithe in ryding to Lawren fair the last sabboithe(3) 1657 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII 13.
Februar … 15. Sabboth: solitarie; at home. 16. Munday [etc.] 1674 Meikle Old Session Bk. 86.
They send ther cairts to the hil for petts befor sabbaths midnight 1693 Cramond Kirk S. III 17 April.
Publick intimation being made in the church, sabbath last 1697 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 236.
The presbitry had appoynted a minister to preach there on sabath nixt for moderating the call 1699 Kingarth Par. Rec. 206.
Quhen he did nip his daughters ear on sabbath 1703 Cranna Fraserburgh 95.
On sabbath come eight days(4) The Lordis saboth (see Lord n. 34 b). 1619 Reg. Privy C. XII 44.
[9th August last] being the Lordis holie sabboth

b. As a common noun, also, pl. and attrib. 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 20.
The sabboth nixt thairefter 1624 Elgin Rec. II 184.
To … confess ther falt of … playing them the last sabothe 1628 Dundonald Par. Rec. 238.
Helene Armour … to stand the next sabbath in the jogges 1670 Meikle Old Session Bk. 84.
[He was to excommunicate them] the nixt sabthepl. 1641 Kingarth Par. Rec. 4.
Tuell severall sabbaths 1643 Fugitive Poetry II xx 2.
Prelats who God's sabbaths with their playes Profaind 1649 Cupar Presb. 136.
Wpon the saboths immediatly before Midsommer and Hallowewen, that no fyres to be set [ed. sit] on wpon these nights 1669 Ellon Par. 129.
10 saboths missing here … 3 saboths missing herepl. without infl. 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS p. 11.
With Mr. Wmffra Hood and Mr. Thomas Mellwin twa sabouth, xlviii s.attrib. 1622 Reg. Privy C. in Salmon Borrowstounness 61.
On a sabbath night

c. Comb. in sabbath-breaker, -breaking, -brech. 1617 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 157.
Ordained to satisfie … and to pay as sabbothe-breakeris 1650 Boharm Kirk S. 13 Oct.
To censure swearers, saboth breakers [etc.] 1652 Cullen Kirk S. 1 Aug. 1658 Cramond Kirk S. 11 July. — 1650 Brechin Presb. 54.
Profanitie of the court … in masks and sabboth breakings 1680 Old Ross-shire I 41.
Jon. Roy … for sabbath breaking, £1 — 1667 Ellon Par. 128.
Delated for sabbath brech 1684 Ib. 138.
Sabbath breach 1688 Boharm Kirk S. 8 July.
George Duncan and William Russell confessed sabbath breach by [etc.]

3. transf. A time when God rested after labour; a day of celebration and thanksgiving. c1588 Hume 53/48.
Alluding to the defait of the Spanish Nauie … Triumphant Lord of armies … Thou hes subdu'd the vniuersall coastes … Let euerie … palice be repleat With fine perfume [etc.] … All to decore with ioy … This new triumph and sabboth of the Lord