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.
Gast, Gaist, n.2 Also: gaste, ghast, ghaist. [Var. of Gest n.3 common in later texts (from c 1570), and occas. in late prints or copies of earlier ones. The instance in Leg. S. is prob. a miswriting rather than a survival from OE. (Anglian) gæst, pl. gastas.] A guest.a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1097.
Sanct Machor … gret ioy made That he sa dere-worthy gaste hade a1540 Freiris Berw. 239 (B).
I will herbry no gaistis heir perfay 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4539.
The Knicht … prayit his gaistis for to be blyith and glaid 1572 Maitl. Q. x. 75.
The gold ȝe gat for suche ane gaist [: manifest] Will neuer by ȝour childring meit c1590 Fowler I. 282/21.
Quhils with him you ar his gasts, and with him dois remaine 1600-1610 Melvill 693.
We could neither be pleisaunt ghaistis, nethir they pleisand hostis a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 18 b.
Shroe the ghast that the house is the war of
