A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1598
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Eldest, Eldast, a. Also: eldeste, -aste, -ayst, heldast. [ME. eldest, -ast, eld-, ealdeste, OE. (Angl.) eldest(a, ældest(a, (WS.) yldest(a.]
1. Of members of a family: Oldest, first-born. Freq. with sone and douchter.(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 71.
He callit his son till him in hy, The eldest and apperande air 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 138*.
Prynce Robart, … and his eldeste sune John eryl of Carryke c1420 Wynt. ii. 185.
He gat sonnys twa, Esaw callyd the eldest, And luwyt wes wytht the fadyre best c1420 Ib. vi. 327.
This eldest brodyre Karoloman Till halynes all gawe hym than 1456 Hay II. 30/19.
A traytour that betraisis his … eldest sone a1500 Henr. Fab. 255.
The eldest wes the gyde and vent beforne 1539 Stirlings of Keir 364.
Mergrat Boquhanane, eldest doichtare of … Patrik Boquhanane a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxvi. 9.
The eldest brother was na fule 1596 Dalr. I. 237/18.
Ferquhard, the eldest of King Eugenies sones, is crounit king(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvi. 104.
His heldast douchtyre than alswyth He wedyt wele a1400 Ib. xxxi. 46.
Auyte the eldaste wes & ayr, & Fergusium the ȝongare bruthir 1396 Scot. Ant. XIV. 217.
The sayd lorde Erle sal gif to the sayd Scher Jone Elizabeth his eldast douchter tylhis wyfe c1420 Wynt. i. 525.
Tyll Sem, as eldast halily Fell all the landis of Asy 1513 Doug. i. ix. 131.
The ceptre wand, Quhilum Priamus eldast douchter bair in hand 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II. 106.
To James Fyf, hir eldast sone 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 14.
He begat thre sones, the eldast callit Sir Colene
b. Pertaining to the oldest of a family.c1420 Wynt. ii. 209.
Thus Jacob wane the eldest gre, Thowcht yhungar in the byrthe was he
2. In general use: a. Of persons: Most aged. b. Of things: Oldest, longest in use.a. 1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 246.
Ane worthy asysse of the eldast … of the said landis and of the quentre by a 1470 Liber Aberbr. 108.
Mony of the eldayst mene in the cuntreyb. 1575 Edinburgh Testaments IV. 42 b.
[I leave] to James … my eldest blak cloik 1590 Ib. XXI. 182.
He … leuis … to James his ȝoungest brother his eldest frenche blak cloik
3. Of greatest antiquity.c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 1366.
Noblis … worthi of renoun, Off cot armys eldest in that regioun
