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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stif(f, Stuf(f)(e, v. Also: stift, stive, steive. [ME and e.m.E. styffe (Piers Plowman), stive (14th c.), stiff (1488), stif (1582), OE stifian; Stif(f adj.]

1. To ? stiffen or ? quilt (some part of) a garment. Cf. Stif(f)ing n. 2. Perhaps with influence from Stuf(f n. 4 or perhaps this is some sort of development from Stuf(f n. 4 as ? to line with ‘stuff’. 1473 Treas. Acc. I 16.
iii½ elne of gret braid clath to stuf ij doublatis to the king 1474 Treas. Acc. I 20.
vij quarteris of braid clath to stufe a doublat of grene sating … to the sammyn doublat v quarteris of braid clath to flote it with 1474 Treas. Acc. I 22. 1539–40 Treas. Acc. VII 293.
For … bukrem to lyne the saidis tynnakillis with … Item, for cammes to stuff the orpheis of the samin 1552 Treas. Acc. X 70.
Quhite taffiteis … to lyne the hude and slevis … ane elne of quhite bukrame to stuff the hude and slevis 1561 Treas. Acc. XI 66.
For v elnis ij quarteris of reid bukrame to stuffe the nekis of the saidis clokis 1562 Treas. Acc. XI 230.
Twa elnis of blak gray to the saidis hois … ij elnis ij quarteris of canves to thame … iij elnis lylis wirsate to stuffe the said hois(b) 1602 Tailor's Acc. Bk. 19b.
Ane ell and ane quarter of stif harne to stive the burris and nek and cloik nek and coit burris

2. To stiffen (a ruff) with starch, to starch. 1622 Perth Kirk S. MS 11 March.
Margaret Melling … appeirit to be stiffen ruffis and owerlayis 1623 Orkney Bp. Ct. 48b.
His overlair quhilk was stiftit with blew stiffing

3. Const. wp.: To make steadfast or determined, to encourage. a1634 Read Buch. 749.
Frenchmen altogither favouring the banished queins caus impeded peice steiving her faction wp with greit promises to continow the warr