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.
Quotation dates: 1400, 1499-1664
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Beg. v. Also: begg, beagg, beig, baig, bag; big, bygue. [ME. begg(e, beggen (c 1225), of uncertain origin.]
1. intr. To ask for alms or food.c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2536 (biggand frome dure to dure I pas). a1500 Henr. Fab. 97 (I schame to beg). a1500 Bk. Chess 1486 (beggand in the land). a1508 Kennedy Flyting 426 (thow beggit with a pardoun in all kirkis). 1512 Treasurer's Accounts IV. 186 (ane Ybernian preist at past begand thrucht the hall). 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 14 (he beggis and will nocht wirk for his leving). c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 29 (thame that beggis frome dure to dure). a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxvi. 44 (to beg and nocht to byd).
2. tr. To ask for (something) as alms, in charity, or as a favour.c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyting 133 (thow skaffis and beggis beir and aitis); 142 (beggand ky and ox). 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 61 (all otheris mon thar lycht beg or borrow). 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 135/16 (beggand our meit athourt the cuntre). 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 338 (thai beigit the samyn fra honest men).1611 Mure Early Misc. P. ii. 38 (ane captiue beggand grace). 1642 Montgomery Mem. 294 (I baig at my Lord to be keind and loving). 1664 Wemyss Corr. 132 (to beayg the ffauer of ȝour Lordship).
