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.
Cuschet(t, Cowschot, n. Also: kowschot, cowschet; cuschate, cushat, -shot, cussatt. [Northern ME. cowschote (15th c.), OE. cúsc(e)ote, -scute, of obscure formation.] The wood-pigeon, ring dove.The place-name Couschotelaw (Cushat Law, Northumberland, near the Scottish border) occurs c 1200.c1450-2 Howlat 230.
The cowschotis war personis in thar apparale 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 237.
The cowschet [R. kowschot] crowdis and pyrkis on the rys c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 69.
Evir the cuschettis at him tuggit, The rukis him rent [etc.] 1549 Compl. Scotl. 39/15.
The turtil began for to greit, quhen the cuschet ȝoulit a1568 Scott xv. 38.
Away I went, my wache the cuschett cryis a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 43.
The cuckoe and the cuschate [v.r. cuschet, cussat] cryit 1587-99 Hume iii. 191.
The cuschetts on the branches green, Full quietly they crowd
