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.
Closet, Closat(e, n. Also: closett, closit(t, clossit, closait; cloiset, -ait. [ME. closet (14th c.), OF. closet.]
1. A small room; a private chamber or (royal) chapel.(a) 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. 19.
1½ elne of vellous for a chesabell to the Kingis closate 1474 Ib. 22.
To by a chymna to the Kingis closat 1488 Ib. 83.
Ressauit in the cloissat of Dauidis Toure ane haly-water fat of siluer [etc.] 1502 Ib. II. 39.
vj quarteris blakgray for the Kingis closait 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 175.
The closait witht … ane chair of eis, … ane lytile sytting chair [etc.]fig. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 455.
Of thi hert kepe ay clene the closat Quhar God delytis to mak his residens(b) 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 33.
Deliuerit to the Qwenis selue … in hir closit … ij elne of vellus for colaris 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 49.
For ix elne fresit claith to the Kingis almeryis in his closet a1500 Doug. K. Hart 313.
King Hart intill ane previe closet crappe, Was neir the dungeoun wall, neirby the ground Id. Æn. iii. ii. 51.
The quyet closettis oppynnyt with a rerd Ib. ix. v. 83.
Be the secret closettis or entre Of the venerabill auld … Veste 15.. Clar. ii. 149.
This knicht, … passit rycht Unto ane closit, and with him brocht againe rose water cleir 1688 Wemyss Chart. II. 256.
The furniture, … and a few small picters of her closittfig. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 12.
Haill, dern closit till woundit and very! c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxv. 78.
Hospitall riall, the lord of all Thy closet did include
b. Clerk of (the) closet, a private clerk or secretary to the king.1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 513.
Innocence and Deuotioun … Bene clerkis of closet and cubiculairis 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 545/2.
Ane lettre to Schir Ewin Fawlane, … makand him clerk of closet to our soverane lord 1527 Ib. 566/1.
Ane lettre to Mr. Johne Giffurde, persone of Tullialloun, makand him ane of the clerkis of the Kingis closet for all the dais of his life
2. A closet of ease.(a) 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 294.
1c nalis to the Kingis oosting closait 1535 Stewart 59203.
Out-throw ane closat quhair the filth did ryn Of all that place 1565 Perth B. Ct. MS. 175.
Ane aisment and closat with ane bowall 1583 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 179.
For clenging … of maister James Lowsonis … closattis quhilkis brak out & ran athort thair ȝaird(b) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 525.
To ij werkmen that clenȝet ij closettis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 203.
He … drave the king to the hart, … and kest his body down in the closet Id. Livy I. 88/12.
He drewe mony closettis, condittis, and synkis fra the hicht of the toun … to purge the sammyn of all corruptioun and filth c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3990.
The fylth of closettis mony eit 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 29.
[Leave] to byg ane closet apon the baksyd of his hous 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 189.
The south kirk dur … quhilk seruis of na thing at this present bot for ane commoun closit, continewallie fylit be the wikit a1578 Pitsc. I. 181/30.
Worthie … rather to haue haldin the pleugh … or, witht ȝour reuerence, had mokit [v.r. muckit] clossitis 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 187.
The inhabiteris of the foirlandis … tomes thair closettis and pottis on the hie gaitt 1622-6 Bisset II. 164/29.
His bodie was cassin in ane maist filthie closett unwirthy to ressave any buryell
