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: 1399-1400, 1480-1596, 1652-1669
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Erth(e, Eirth, n. Also: eirthe, eirtht, earth, aerth, airth. [e.m.E. earth, ME. erth(e, OE. eorðe. Common after 1550 under English influence in place of the usual Sc. Erd(e n.]
1. The earth as a whole = Erd(e n. 1.(a) c1515 Asloan MS I. 153/25.
The breid of the erth … is scant half samekle as the lenth 1513 Doug. iii. iii. 23.
Thi cite sal we geif empyre to ryng Our al the erth c1552 Lynd. Mon. 699.
He cled the erth with herbis and treis 1567 Satirical Poems iii. 227.
My veirsis … peirs sall erthe and air etheriall 1596 Dalr. I. 4/24.
In respecte of turnings and windings of the erth(b) 1535 Stewart 15695.
Quhilk sall cum vpoune the latter day Doun to this eirth c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii. 6.
How tha thame selfis heir upon earth dois gyde 1570 Satirical Poems xii. 136.
The Lord of Hostes that heuin & eirth commandis 1573 Three Reformers 79.
He had maid hevin and eirth to heir
b. In (the or this) erthe, on earth. = Erd(e n. 1 b.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 1131.
Till [= while] he in this erth duelland was c1515 Asloan MS I. 309/14.
The first gret mortale were in erth c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 64.
Gif sic ane consuetude war in this erth holden! 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 265.
In heuin and erth thy grace salbe commendit a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS clxxix. 44.
Thocht thai … In to the erthe beir now the bell(b) 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 164.
Manis stait in aerth is variabillc1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 262.
Onye [man] … In to this earth on lyfe that leuing is 1570 Satirical Poems xvii. 3.
In eirth lang syne thair had been nothing than, Saif only vice a1578 Pitsc. II. 67/13.
Thingis in heuin abone or in eirth beneth
c. The ferme erth, the mainland.c1515 Asloan MS I. 308/20.
Than … lyis ylandis in the occeane seperat fra the ferme erth
2. The surface of the earth. = Erd(e n. 2.1480 Rec. Earld. Orkney 332.
With all fredomis, profeits, and richtwis pertinans, under erth and abov 1513 Doug. i. vi. 83.
Vnder the erth quhar ald hurdis hyd lay c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 464.
Aither vther to eirth doun dang1588 Protocol Book of J. Robertsone 45.
The said James sat doun on his kneis vpone the bair arth and crauit … forgew ance
3. The soil of the earth. = Erd(e n. 3.1574 Edinburgh Testaments III. 108.
His bodie to be bureit in the airth 1580 Ib. VIII. 62.
I leif my saull to God and my body to the erthe 1585 Ib. XV. 12.
Hir bodey to be bureit in the erth
b. Soil, mould = Erd(e n. 3 b.c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1012.
Cauld erth salbe thy fude c1552 Ib. 1576.
The cragis of erth war maid denude 1578 Aberd. Chart. 343.
Viseand Androw Rais bark pottis [they] ordanit the samyn to be fillit with eirtht c 1590 Knox II. 66 (G).
Be ressoun the wall was eirthe, the breiche was not maid sa greit ?1549 Monro W. Isles 59.
Ane laiche rough ile, … of naturall fertile eirthe
c. Earth and stane. = Erd(e n. 3 c.1652 Wemyss Chart. 239.
Be delyvering of earth and staine of the ground 1664 Decis. Lords G. 71.
Her husband's bailie … having given to her … possession by earth and stane 1669 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
Be gift and delywerance of earth and staine of the ground … , as ws is in sick caisis
4. A piece of ground; a land or country.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvii. 1030.
That erth that he askit hade, He gaf hym thare but langer bade c1515 Asloan MS I. 303/20.
Than Noy devidit all erthis in thre partis
