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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
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

15851

dost