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.
Coact, Coac(k, v. Also: choact, choak, coak. [ME. coacted p.p. (a 1400), f. L. coactus: see Coact,p.p.] tr. To compel, constrain, coerce.In freq. use throughout the 16th century.(a) 1494 Acta Aud. 202/1.
That the said convent … wes compellit and coakkit to mak the said assedation … be force and dred 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 276 b.
For and he ware coakkit [to penance] it helpit nocht him 1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. 338.
That sche wes nocht coackit nor witht drede led be hir sade husbande 1520 Stirling B. Rec. I. 3.
He … maid fatht that he was nocht compellit, sedoussit nor coacit thar to 1525 Prestwick B. Rec. 51.
To coac hym to arbytrys aganys his wyll 1527 Lennox Mun. 228.
I wyll gif hir this of my awne fre wyll, nocht choakyt nor constrenȝeit be na man 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 144.
Nother coackit nor compellit bot of ther awin motywe will 1566 Montgomery Mem. 203.
That the said Erle … sall nocht be astrictit, coacit, nor compulsit c1590 J. Stewart 38/298.
The heauenlie eis that chiftans did coak(b) 1515 Acta Conc. MS. XXVII. 5.
He was nocht coactit nor strenȝeit tharto 1527 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 231.
Johne Willamesone … nocht compellit nor coactit, bot of his awne fre will as aperit, grantit that he has sauld [etc.] 1533 Boece ix. v. 298.
Saxouns ouresett war coactit to pay grete tribute Ib. x. xii. 377 b.
Gif be storme … ony Scott war choactit to arrive in thai boundis 1541 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 106.
Thair is pairt of oure burgh … [that] coact and constrene … merchanttis to pas … to havynnis and townys quhair thay like c1552 Lynd. Mon. 990.
Quhen thay war to syn subiectit, To schame and dreid thay war coactit c 1580 Misc. Spald. C. II. 333.
I beleif … your Hienes … will neuir mene to coact or compel me to my barnis as ane sencles ideot 1625 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 303.
[Being] suorne that shoe wes no wayes coactit nor compellit thairto 1688 Ayr & W. Coll. IV. 177.
That shee wes noewayes coacted or compelled therto
