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

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

Surfet, -fat, adj. Also: surfett, surffet, surfatt, surfait, -feit, sorfett. [Cf. e.m.E. surfeit (1699) satiated; Surfet n.] In excess of what is normal or necessary; excessive, immoderate: a. Of food and drink, or feasting. b. Of expenses. c. Of various conditions, states of affairs, etc.a. c1500 Makc. MS xiv 67.
Betuene malis drynk no surfat dilit, Bot thrist and trawall gyf the occasione 1531 Bell. Boece I xxv.
Sindry of thaim, throw surfet diet, growis furius in thair latter age 1531 Bell. Boece II 75.
It is said, the surfet cheir that is usit yit amang Inglismen and Scottis, xiii dayis togiddir eftir Cristinmes, wes institute that time be King Arthure 1533 Bell. Livy I 22/25.
Hercules, eftir that he was fillit with surfett mete & wynes, fell on ane hevy slepe 1535 Stewart 33149 heading.
Of surfat drinking and volupteous leving a1570-86 Maitl. F. 52/93.
With temperance I wald vse meit and drink And hes all surfat banket in dispyteb. c1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I cx.
Besyde the surfait expensis of the Kingis rentis and casualiteis as is abufe expremit 1528–9 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 304.
The surfatt expensis maid this yer in our hous throw occasioun of truble 1531 Bell. Boece II 318.
And becaus na metropolitane kirk wes in Scotland … best wes to obey to the Archebischop of York; for be that way thay micht eschew surfet expensis, havand decision of thair actionis … be thair superior 1542 Elgin Rec. I 73.
The entres siluer dischargit to the said James for the surfet expensis maid be him in the kingis servece 1567 Sel. MSS Q. Mary 176.
The greit and surffet expensis that I have maid and maks daylyec. 1536 Bell. Boece I 83.
He wes irkit of so surfet noumer [of women] 1531 Bell. Boece I 149.
Our handis worne with thair surfet laubour 1531 Bell. Boece I 218.
Trubillit with gret infirmite, cumin be surfet cauld 1558-66 Knox II 269.
Besides the surfett weat, and corruptioun of the air, the myst was so thick [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy I 122/17.
The said pepill war … movit aganis him for the surfett spending of thare laubouris a1578 Pitsc. I 102/14.
Wexit and irkit … throw frequent heirschipis and surfeit raidis

d. Of persons: Extravagant, wasteful (in expenditure). a1568 Bann. MS 263b/20.
And bring he in ane hundreth pund of guid Scho and hir ȝung wenchis two or thre Ane stane of woll thay mak with coistis ruid And God wait how sorfett thay all wilbe