We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Quotation dates: 1399-1586

[0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]

Bitternes, Bittirnes, n. Also: bytternes, -irnes, -yrnes. [ME. bitternesse, OE. biternes, -nys.] Bitter quality (lit. or fig.).a1400 Legends of the Saints iii. 459 (the self bittirnes of gall). c1420 Wynt. vii. Prol. 10 (bakbyttyn to be with byttyrnes). 1456 Hay II. 140/29 (the bitternes of the curnis). 1461 Liber Pluscardensis 383 (breith and bitternes). a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1039 (with cair and bitternes). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 82 (that nevir taistit bittirnes). 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 229 (quhat byttyrnes and payne lufe bredis). 1562-3 Winȝet II. 22/22 (deplorand the bittirnes of the tyme). a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS clxx. 136 (withe better hart mair bitternes that beiris).

3155

dost