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: 1438-1513, 1569-1626
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Flat, Flatt, a. [ME. flatt(e, flat (c 1320), ON. flat-r.]
1. Completely prostrate. ?1438 Alex. 10111.
Alexander … Wnto the erd [he] gartly flat braid c1450-2 Howlat 838.
The golk … Flang him flat in the fyre a1500 Golagros and Gawane 106.
The grume … Fellit the freke with his fist flat in the flure 1513 Doug. v. vii. 20.
He … Al flat hym speldyt on the dun sand 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 335.
He fallis flat down on his face
2. Of a blow: Given with the palm of the hand. 1622-6 Bisset II. 247/24.
The maryner aucht to abyde the first streik, be it fist or flatt with his hand
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"Flat adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/flat_adj>
