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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.

Throuch(e)-uther, adv. Also: throu-, throw-, thro'-, through- and -wther, -other(s. [Thro(u)ch prep. and Other pron.¹]

1. (Mingled) together one with another; promiscuously; in a confused or disorderly manner; indiscriminately.(a) 1596 Dalr. I 85/19.
For the Ingles men, evin as the mair politick Scottis, vses that ald Saxone toung, al throuch vther in commoune, quhilke now is called the Ingles toung 1596 Dalr. II 301/16.
Captiues war numberit al throuch vther [L. plus minus] a thousand 1596 Dalr. II 195/21.
Tha gather confusetlie and al throuch vther, to the number of nyn hunder men of weir 1596 Dalr. II 314/1.
Raiseng … an armie, as tha mycht al throuche vther(b) a1500 K. Hart 583.
Reassoun and wit richt at the ȝet thay rang … So come thai in ilkane throw uther thrang 1513 Doug. xiii ix 109.
Dansys and rowndis traysyng mony gatis, Athir throu other reland, on thar gys 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. v 593.
Texuntque fugas et proelia ludo, ane ryddis throw uther, gangis throw uther fechting 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vi 27.
Inextricabilis error, plexitas viarum unde nemo se explicare potest (thwartring of gaittis ganging throw uther) 1637 Johnston Diary I 265.
I was confused with the confused outcrying of every body throu uther, so that I got not leave to opin my mouth 1662 Crim. Trials III 613.
When we wold putt haiked flesh of an vnchristned child, dowgis and sheipis flesh, and pairingis of naillis, &c., all haked throw-vther(c) 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii 85.
Figges, orenges, lemmons, … growing all through other 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 448.
Is not this hell and heaven woven through-other? 1637 Monro Exped. I 11.
Having beene divers times pell mel through others 1653 Binning Wks. 224.
He that keepeth His commands dwelleth in Him, and He in him; as the names of married persons are spelled through other, so doth He spell out this indwelling, it is not cohabitation but inhabitation 1653 Binning Wks. 373.
Let heaven and earth mix through other, yet ye may be as Mount Sion unmoved in the midst of many floods 1676 Cunningham Diary 12.
In my own setting of that land I have confounded my rent and the ministers teind throughother 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 507.
Some, who are endeavouring to have mixed through other, papists, protestants, malignants, and sectarians of all sorts(d) 1682 Peden Serm. (1782) 1 Serm. 7.
Ye meet together housefuls of you dancing and leaping thro' other

2. In(to) a state of muddle and confusion. 1626 Linlithgow B. Rec. 15 Sept.
He maid sick bussines that allmoist he patt the heall towne throw wther 1634 Johnston Diary I 233.
On Mononday, Tuesday, Wedensday I was al jumbled through uther

3. In predicative use. a. Blended into each other, intermingled. b. Mixed up, confused, disordered. Also attrib. as adj.a. 1630 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 47.
O sweet communion, when Christ and we are through-other, and are no longer two!b. 1635 Dickson Wr. 46.
My wits are all through other: I cannot find an out-get 1638 Henderson Serm. 486.
And if so be that Satan and his instruments can get their will, they had rather that kingdoms were through other, and every one of them to shed the blood of another a1658 Durham Scandal (1740) 329.
Some were ready to carp … and to quarrel at others for such juffling, when they were so through otherattrib. 1720 Wodrow Corr. II 492.
About half an hour after I despatched mine to you … my rude and through-other draught