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.
Fift, Fyft, a. Also: fifte, fyfte, fyift, feift. [e.m.E. fift, ME. fyft(e, fift(e, OE. fífta.]
1. Fifth in order. a. In attributive use.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 55.
The fyfte our of the day Ib. vi. 417.
The fyfte stage c1420 Wynt. ii. 871.
In the fyft eylde Ib. iii. 766.
Ilk fyft yhere 1456 Hay I. 33/9.
The accomplisment of this fyft visioun 1490 Irland Mir. I. 138/13.
In the fyft wourd sche schew hire ferme hop … in the lord 1513 Doug. v. (heading).
The proloug of the fyft buke 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3048.
He sall speik or the fyft day 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 440.
Ane apostle of this fyft euangile 1644 Misc. Spald. C. III. 195.
The fyft day of Julii 1661 Acts VII. 16/2.
Anabaptists and fyft monarchie men(b) 1465 Lennox Mun. 79.
Of our regnne the fifte ȝere c1515 Asl. MS. I. 324/14.
In this fift age 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 118.
Neuer … Mair than langis to the cart the fift quheill 1544 Reg. Cupar A. II. 32.
The fift day of September 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 305.
In the fift lach chamber(c) 1567 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 21.
The fyift day of December 1571 Melville Corresp. 9.
Of oure regnne the fyift yeir(d) 1516 Sutherland Chart. 67.
The feift day of September 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 124.
The feift and sext poynt of dittay
b. Absolute or predicative.a1400 Leg. S. xl. 1269.
The fyft is the betaknyng [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 2/6.
The fyft is of the tothir angel a1500 Henr. Orph. 47.
Cleo the fyft, that now is a goddas 1549 Compl. 11/29.
He chesit … the feit of the fyift c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1962.
He was frome Noye the fyft be lyne 1585 James VI Ess. 58.
That ȝour first syllabe … be short, … the fyft short 1629 Boyd Last B. 167.
I haue heard you … discusse … foure difficulties; the fift and last … is behinde
c. Added to the names of kings or popes.1456 Hay I. 75/12.
Pape Urbane the fyft c1515 Asl. MS. I. 189/13.
Our souerane lord James the fyft that now is 1549 Compl. 2/22.
Sen the deceis of oure nobil kying James the fyift 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI. 214 b.
The thrie merk peice of King James the fyftis cunȝe
d. ellipt. The fifth year or day.1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 172.
The yere … a thousand foure hundretht and the fyft 1569 Reg. Morton I. 46.
The fyift of Februar 1610–11 Misc. Spald. C. V. 85.
The fyift of Januar 1636–7 Ib. 150.
The fyft of October
2. One in five (parts).c1420 Wynt. ii. 370.
The fyft part off thare wynnyng 1548 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 134.
The fyft pairt thairof to be defalket 1585 James VI Ess. 76.
Fowre parts gold and fift part silver
