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: 1375-1568
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Curtas, -ais, a. Also: curtays. [ME. curtas, -ais, -ays (14th c.), etc., OF. curteis, corteis. Cf. Courtas a.] Courteous; of good manners or breeding: a. Of persons. b. Of actions or behaviour.a (a) 1375 Barb. i. 362.
He wes off full fayr effer, Wys, curtais, and deboner 1375 Ib. 399. c1420 Wynt. v. 277.
Curtays he wes in tyll his deyd c1420 Ib. vii. 821.
Till hys legis he wes curtays [: allwayis] 1456 Hay I. 63/2. 1456 Ib. II. 150/32.
He was bathe honest and honourable, curtais and free(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 7060.
Scho wes swete, and debonare, Curtas, hamely, plesande, and fare c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 202.
Sad of contenance he was … , Litill of spech, wys, curtas and benyng c1475 Ib. v. 598. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 26/26.
Thou suld be prudent, hardy, … liberale, curtas, meik 1513 Doug. iii. Prol. 30.
Gentill curtas redaris, of gude zeill, I ȝow beseik to gevin aduertens 1513 Ib. xi. iii. 13.
Eneas, heynd, curtas, and gud 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 162/28.
The kyng of Ingland vil be na mair gracius, curtas nor merciful to thé, … nor he hes bene to the sperutualite of Ingland a1568 Bannatyne MS 217 b/46.
Se in hir serwice thow nocht blin, Bot ay be curtas to that cleirb. c1420 Wynt. ii. 982.
Tenelaus … made hym curtays welcummyng c1420 Ib. v. 4636.
He mad curtas and fayre answere a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 222.
Humly on curtas wys To his fader he bowit c1515 Asloan MS I. 181/24.
Larges in all caise is sa curtase and awenand
