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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Art, Airt, n.¹ Also: arte, arit, hart. [Early ME. art, OF. art, L. art-, ars. The later form airt is common from about 1580.]

1. An art; a branch of learning or skill.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 56 (liberale hartis). 1380 Inscr. in Soc. Ant. XXX. 42 (maystr in arit). c1420 Wynt. i. 240 (the art of musyke). Ib. viii. 409 (Mayster off Art). 1456 Hay II. 114/4 (the arte of medicyne). 1480 Acta Dom. 48/2 (the faculte of Arte of the vniuersite of Glasgw). 1492 Acts II. 238/1 (to remane thre ȝeris at the sculis of art and Iure). c1515 Asl. MS. I. 312/3 (art magik); 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 509 (the plewchmanis art). Ib. ii. iii. 16 (Grekis art and slycht). a1540 Freiris Berw. 334 (science, nigromancy, or art). 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. a ij (to mak in Scottis richt weill he knew that art).(b) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 115/28 (gude cunning and airt). Ib. 117/3 (airt or experience). 1567 Sat. P. vi. 12 (airt poetick). a1578 Pitsc. II. 239/17 (the airt of Igrimancie). 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. 136 (the airt of chirurgie). 1622-6 Bisset I. 29 (the airt of medicene). 1641 Acts V. 456/1 (the airt of artealliarie). 1680 Aberd. B. Rec. 300 (the litster airt and calling).

2. Art and part (later airt and pairt), used to denote participation in crime. c1420 Wynt. vii. 3020 (and 3070).
All thai that had part Of that brynnyn, or ony art Ib. 3023.
All tha That gert be art, or part, or swike, Bryn that tyme this Erle Patryke 14.. Acts I. 9/2.
Of hym that is challangyt of art and part [L. ars et pars] of thyft 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 242/1.
A respitt to D. M. for arte and parte of the slauchter of umquhile P. M. 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. .
Accusit for the airt and pairt of the thiftuis steling … of xxij schavis of bere 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 115.
Suspectit for the art and pairt of the slauchter of … the king a1578 Pitsc. I. 218/7.
How he might be satisfieit in his awin conscience of the airt and pairt of the crwell act 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 117 b.
Thou thy selfe full airt had, and parte in harming and skaithing of me Ib.
I deny. airt & part haueand in the … slaughter 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. 208.
Art and part depends in this, as in other crimes, upon circumstances

b. The person(s) participating in a crime. 14.. Acts I. 342/1.
Thai that ar other arte or parte of … thift or slauchter 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 9.
Give thai happyn to doo any scath, thair herbryoures sal be callit and haldyn arte and parte 1461 Liber Plusc. 398.
Of his misdeid thou art bath art and part 1558 Melrose R. Rec. III. 164.
That he suld be airt and pairt or counsall gyffer to the said Patrik 1570 Sat. P. xii. 88.
Sen art and part ar gyltie of his blude 1596 Misc. Spald. C. I. 103.
Except that thay war airt and pairt with Jonet Wischert, … brint for sorcerie 1610 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 240/2.
Hee hes accuset na man quhatsomever to be airt or pairt of that deid c1650 Spalding I. 20.
All [of them being] suspectit personis to be either airt and pairt, or on the counsall of this fyre 1685 Procl. in London Gaz. No. 2032.
Under the pain of being repute and esteemed Art and Part with them all in their wicked Deeds and Practices

c. So Art and partaker (also partaking). 1515 Acts II. 282/2.
He salbe haldin airt & partakar of his euill deidis & salbe accusit thairfoir 1613 Highland P. III. 140.
Under the pane to be repute … arte and partakares with the rebelles — 1581–2 Rec. Privy C. III. 441.
Of the speciall causing, … art-partaking, command, . and ratihabitioun of Martene Ellot 1596 Highland P. I. 154.
By the speciall causing, … art pairtaking, … assistance and ratihabition of the said John Campbell