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.
Grete, Greit, a., n., and adv. Also: gret, greite, greitt, greyt. [ME. greet(e, grete (also greyt), earlier greate, græt, OE. gréat.The long vowel of the compar. gretar, -er, in place of the more original grettar, -er (see Gret a.) has been taken over from the positive and the superlative.Other forms in which the adj. appears are great, Grait(t, Grat, Grate, Grit (also Girt), grite s.v. Gryt(e.]
1. Great in size, quantity, extent, or importance.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 8.
A tempil grete & fare he fand Ib. xxxvi. 897.
Thre droppis of blud fare & gret [: gete] 1456 Hay I. 38/14.
He hid him. in a grete forest quhare now is Rome Ib. 46/1.4.
He tuke fra his hals a grete wreth of golde 1482 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 46.
The ankyrage of ilk grete schip 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 254.
For the tursing of ane grete sale [= sail] 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 112.
Swiftly we slyde our bullyrand wallys grete Ib. iv. vii. 80.
Lyke emmotis grete Quhen thai depulȝe the mekill byng of quhete 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 35 b.
The … plate forme of the body of the grete hous 1539 Soc. Ant. XXIV. 49.
Ane septour with ane grete bereall … in the heid of it 1596 Dalr. I. 35/3.
Frome the diocie of Perth evin to the grete sey(b) 1507 Edinb. Hammermen 61.
For the ryngin of the greit bell to the derige 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 452.
For the dichting of the greit cheifis for the greit mast 1523 Ib. V. 220.
Ane greit casit windo to the quenis greit chalmer 1535 Stewart 16861.
With greit doggis for slauchter of the deir 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 287.
For ane greit stoke loke to this ȝet 1575 Edinb. Test. III. 387 b.
Ane dosane of greit knyfis callit braigis 1622-6 Bisset I. 2/22.
Charles, … king of greit Brytan Ib. II. 163/8.
The Druedes … wirschipped … under greit aik treis 1625 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 123.
Twa greit craw irnes, … for the better breking of the said ward(2) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 273.
In the ayr wes clernes sene grete and fare Ib. 1033.
A multytud weil greit Of Iowis c1420 Wynt. ii. 102.
Off wyne and wax, oyle and qwheyt … all tyme scho had copy greyt 1456 Hay I. 207/34.
Grete soumes of gudis Ib. II. 264/14.
A man past grete age 1513 Doug. i. viii. 23.
Cumpaneis grete … of armyt men 1533 Bell. Livy I. 33/27.
Goldin brochis of grete wecht 1535 Stewart 17394.
In peice and rest … Ane small thing growis to ane greit valour 1562-3 Winȝet I. 3/24.
[To] exhort the latter marinaris to lat down ane grete dele thair hie sailis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 11.
Greit and stark waitches wer in Edinburgh 1581 Acts III. 437/1.
The ower greit abundance of allayed money 1622-6 Bisset II. 225/17.
They sal have the … commoun claythis … , except clething of greit price(3) 1375 Barb. x. 73.
For thai of Lorn full manfully Grete and apert defens can ma c1420 Wynt. i. 339.
Coryne … had grete lykyng To cast thai carlys in werslyng 1456 Hay I. 39/20.
Scho did him grete gude, and grete curtaisy a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 11.
Renkis of grete renovne 1533 Bell. Livy I. 64/20.
The Romanis … had first grete admiracion quhatthis Mecius intendit 1562-3 Winȝet II. 34/22.
Being excellent in grete actis and grete diligence(b) 1535 Stewart 28292.
So Columba tuik on him greit cuir And bissines Ib. 29982.
Ane man he was of greit vrbanitie Ib. 30585.
To thé and thyne it may greit honour be 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. i.
O cruell Deith! to greit is thy puissance Ib. 93.
With greit confort and consolatioun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6792.
The greit lufe betuix us twa hes bene 1567 G. Ball. 5.
Nocht for the warkis of rychteousnes … bot efter his greit mercy Ib. 14.
Our baptisme dotit with … greit vertew 1568 Pref. Lyndesay.
Ane man of greit literature a1585 Maitl. Q. xl. 24.
I knaw ȝour greit excellencie All hairtis dois alluire(4) 14.. Acts I. 336/2.
Thai mak tham maisteris or thai can the craft, in grete skaithing of … the peple 1456 Hay I. 33/2.
To haly kirk quhen it was in grete povertee Ib. II. 21/22.
Forthy dois a king. grete wrang … quhen he [etc.] c1460 Wisd. Sol. 590.
Quhilk is grete vanite and afflixione of spreit 1533 Bell. Livy I. 253/29.
Alwayis … the slauchter was grete 1533 Boece iii. v. 98.
How … the Carnutis had in Gallia movit grete trubill(b) 1535 Stewart 14306.
To reforme the greit dampnage and cryme Tha had sustenit Ib. 23643.
Ȝe ar abill to tak … greit skayth and lak 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2062.
Our greit abusioun is cleirlie knawin 1551 Reg. Privy C. I. 114.
The greit and exhorbitant derth … of all kynd of victuallis 1555 Glenartney Doc.
Be ressoun of this present greit storme and veamence thairof 1570 Buch. Wr. 21.
Seing the miserie sa greit apperand 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 153.
At the tyme of the greitt pest 1597 Ib. 209.
To the greitt skayth and deformitie of the haill town 1598 Ib. 240.
The greitt enormities done be James Young 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. MS. 131 b.
Ane greit perrell to the peipel 1616 Haddington Corr. 132.
The greitt bowtcharie we mak of prettie men(5) 1456 Hay I. 47/5.
[The Samnites] had grete dispyte quhen thai saw that the Romayns had sa grete powere a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 600.
For greit sorrow his hart to brist was boun a1500 Rauf C. 319.
Than the Coilȝear had greit thocht on the cunnand he had maid 1535 Stewart 10224.
Greit terrour thai haf tane Ib. 48988.
In greit furor … ane lang knyfe furth he drew 1533 Bell. Livy I. 203/2.
The Veanis … made thare avant with grete mynassing to sege Rome c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 401.
Quhilk to reheirs I think greit schame Ib. 635.
The Inglismen grew in greit ire 1567 Crim. Trials I. ii. 494.
He appeared to be in ane greit effray a1585 Maitl. Q. x. 18.
Quha gef that prince sa greit audacitie?(6) a1400 Leg. S. i. 12.
Criste … sad til hyme [sc. Peter] this wourd … That ferly now is grete to here 1456 Hay I. 88/3.
A grete thing wele cummyn to purpos Ib. II. 75/4.
How he suld governe him in all his. grete materis 1533 Bell. Livy I. 103/3.
Ȝoung Terquyne … desirit thame to schaw thame benevolus to his grete materis 1538 Lynd. Justing 55.
Than gentill Iames began to crak greit wordis(7) 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccx.
The grete ath [being] sworn apon the haly evangelis 1456 Hay I. 149/11.
To that thing to be kepit thou has maid the grete athe 1479 Acta Conc. 29/2.
Maister Johne has promittit to the lordis be his grete aithe that he sal compere personaly 1503 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 48.
The greit aitht suorne, the richts, ressonis, allegationis of baitht the said partys herd 1542 Elgin Rec. I. 71.
The forsaid Lang Sandé sall. mak his greit ayth that he knavis to hir bot lauty [and] honesty 1601 Prestwick B. Rec. 85.
The quhilkis personis … suor the greit aith to do thair dewtie in thair officeis 1610 Crim. Trials IIII. 107.
Solemplie suorne, vpon thair greit aithes, that they suld leill suith say [etc.]
b. In the compar. forms gretar(e, -ear, -er, greit(t)ar, -are, -er.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 199 (E).
A fothyr [of hay] … gretar [C. greter] … Than he broucht ony that ȝer befor Ib. xx. 463.
Gretar defens maid neuir sa quhoyne Agane so feill a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 720.
We wil nocht for dignite Striwe, na quha sal gretare be c1420 Ratis R. 2321.
Ay the gretar senȝory Suld leid thar stat mar mesour by 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 291.
For xvj fawdom of small tow, xvj d., for xxxiij fawdome of gretare tow, iij s 1503 Ib. II. 216.
Tua tikis of beddis of gretar assise 1528 Lynd. Dreme 633.
It is of greter quantytie Than all the eirth c1552 Id. Mon. 3064.
This lady … , The quhilk had greter realmes ane hunder 1562-3 Winȝet II. 76/5.
Albeit a fer gretear number … mycht hef bene to thame accumpaniit a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 85.
The greter greif the gretar is the glorie c1590 Fowler I. 144/14.
Great fyres of hope bot gretar frosts of feare(b) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5608.
In greiter thing ȝour grace sa sall I pleis Ib. 5793.
[To take] greiter attendence 1570 Sat. P. xxiv. 17.
That bastard bischop bred ane greiter blok 1573 Ib. xlii. 477.
Far greiter burdingis … nor thay dow for to beir 1583 Reg. Privy C. III. 562.
A new Conventioun of the Estaitis in greitter nowmer nor is presentlie assembled(c) 1525 Liber Aberbr. 450.
Noyther of greitar autorite na auayll 1562-3 Winȝet I. 85/24.
Or hald ȝe manna of greitar excellencie than the wthir … ? 1567 G. Ball. 129.
Than greitar gloir and benefice Thow sall mak for vs meit 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 42.
Na les celebrat … than sum beastis of greittar quantitie 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI. 249 b.
For the greitar weill … of the said Ewffame 1622-6 Bisset I. 75/20.
Greittare fayth … to be gevin
c. In the superl. gretast(e, -aist, -est, greit(t)est.(a) a1400 Leg. S. vi. 37.
A palace … As the gretaste of Rome are mad Ib. xxi. 161.
Quhy the gretaste camele Has bot foure [feet] c1475 Wall. i. 167.
The byschoprykis, that war of gretast waile 1533 Gau 26/14.
The gretast articulis of our faith c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1531.
Noye had gretast displesouris, Behauldand the dede creatouris 1567 Acts III. 35/2.
Baronis … of gretaist experience c1590 Fowler I. 108/113.
It was evin a gretast proof of Theseus manly might(b) c1450-2 Howlat 313.
The egill … gretest on ground is Ib. 406.
Four [branches].gretest of gre 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 303.
Irne pellokis … of the gretest sort 1533 Gau 3/7.
Of thir bukis thir ar the gretest 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 246.
Quhen I had gretest dominatioun c1590 Fowler I. 15/20.
He that is most account and most gretest(c) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9219.
I think it best fra the greitest [evil] to foche 1567 G. Ball. 166.
Quha hiest clymmis gettis greitest fall
2. Of men: Of high rank or importance. (Also in compar. and superlative.)(1) 1456 Hay I. 108/7.
That the grete Cane is lord of all the warld Ib. 352/2.
Princis and grete lordis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 337.
Schir Gauane the gay, grete of degre 1526 Douglas Corr. 340.
Greit menn of his realme 1533 Boece vii. vii. 233 b.
Maximiane of grete blude and cousing to the emprioure a1585 Maitl. Q. iii. 61.
Of sum greit [F. grit] men thay haue sic gait that redye ar thame to debait c1590 Fowler I. 31/118.
The monarch Cæsar greit 1622-6 Bisset I. 51/14.
Thocht I knaw na thing bettir than thair convoying away be assistance of greit menabsol. 1456 Hay I. 62/11.
The grete that lufit him nocht, doubtit him c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4833.
That Christis law micht … be … trewlye prechit, baith to greit and small(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv. 130.
Quhare the gretaste of the towne assemlyt 1456 Hay I. 180/26.
Quhen a gretare na ȝe passis be vertu of the sauf condyt a1500 Doug. K. Hart 229.
The greitest of thair ost 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 22.
The greittest of the nobilitie being present 1567 Sat. P. vii. 41.
Thay quhome the bruit did … traytouris call, Greitest in court c1590 Fowler II. 82/28.
The gretest potentates quhase pouar might bene sonest supported
b. Of the Deity or an evil spirit.1456 Hay II. 159/20.
The grete God that formyt the firmament a1500 Rauf C. 734.
Greit God gif I war now … Vpon the mure 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. ii. 480.
Euerie wicht … Thankand greit God, their heidis law deuaill 1535 Stewart 19481.
Greit God to borch that all salbe oure awin 1567 G. Ball. 50.
Sempill sweilling clais, Quharin thow gloris, greitest King c1500 Rowll Cursing 176 (M).
Greit [B. grit] Beliall sall gif ane braid
c. In the names of offices or dignities, with the sense: Chief, principal; ‘high’.1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 522/2.
To the Kingis grete custumaris of Edinburgh 1533 Boece ix. viii. 303 b.
Grete Justice of Scotland 1577 Inverness B. Rec. I. 254.
At.the Greit Almerall and his deputis handis 1581 Acts III. 229/1.
The lord greit chalmerlane, the cancellair, the thesaurair [etc.] 1592 Ib. 531/2.
The lordis of parliament being the greit assyis of the cuntrie
d. In a high degree.a1605 Montg. Misc. P. x. ii.
Greit fuills, for me, I think they ar, That seeks warme water vnder yce
3. In various special senses: a. Coarse of grain, texture, or quality.(1) 1456 Hay I. 301/25.
Nocht in delicious metis na drinkis, bot in rude bef and bacoun and grete metis(2) 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 22.
vj quarteris of grete brade clatht to stufe a doublat 1483 Acta Conc. 83/2.
xj elne of smal quhite, price of the elne xl d., threttene elne of grete quhite price of the elne xvj d.(3) 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxxx.
Aucht merkis for viij b[ollis] of grete salt 1524–5 Acta Conc. MS. XXXV. 9.
[To import.40 chalders of] greit salt.[to export 40 chalders] of small salt 1592 Conv. Burghs I. 380.
Four bollis greit salt
b. Thick, stout.1513 Doug. i. v. 120.
Ane hundreth brasyn chenȝeis grete 1538 Treas. Acc. VI. 420.
For xiiij faldome of grete towis to bynd the cofferis 1552 Ib. X. 97.
xvj faddom of grete corde to hyng chandlaris in my lordis hall 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 460.
That the said Henrie … straik ane uther of the said James servandis … and brak ane greit staff upoun him 1569 Ib. II. 62.
[They] straik the said Walter … with daggis, battownis and greit endis of speris
c. Of a woman: Great (with child).a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 550.
Syne eftyre of tyme in processe Hapnyt that scho gretare wes 1456 Hay I. 40/27.
Ane callit Maro maid hir grete of twa sonis 1530 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 477.
Sche was seiklie and greit with chyle 1513 Doug. x. xii. 40 (R).
Quhen Hecuba … Dremyt sche was grete [B. gret] … With ane fyre brand 1572 Sat. P. xxxii. 78.
Scho, greit with barne, syne gaif the gaist
d. Of cows: Over three years old.1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 264.
Adam Lyndesay … hes spoilȝeit fra thaim … viij greit kye with thar followaris, v ȝoung kye 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 239.
lx greit ky
e. Of a river: In flood.1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 8.
The governour … remanit … on the syid of Twead, becaus the wattir was greit
f. Of direction: Straight, due (north, etc.).1531 Bell. Boece I. 10.
The ilis of Albion, … liand to the grete north Ib. 38.
Ane huge stane to the grete south of the said tempillis
4. Of money [after Du. groot]: Having a value in accordance with that of the Flemish groat.1474 Acta Aud. 34/1.
Johne … sall … pay for ilk pund grete sevin nobillis 1476 Ib. 42/1.
The soume of sevin pundis tuelfe schillingis grete of the vsuale money of Flandris 1494 Acta Conc. 360/1.
The said John Makisone [to pay] … xxiiij s. grete, vsuale money of Flandris, the said William Todrik xxij s. grete of the samyn money, and … that lettrez be written to distrenȝe the saidis personis … for the said pundis gretis or the avale thairof as it now gais 1508 Rentale Dunkeld. 60.
The pund greit for thre pundis Scottis 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 164.
Gif ony of the saidis guidis happynnis to be bocht be fremen of this burgh be the Frank pund greit 1555 Ib. 210.
The grete tax of xxm li. greit 1575 Conv. Burghs I. 39.
The commissaris … grantis … ane schilling greit of euery sek of thair gudes 1578 Ib. 65.
Quhill the sowme of twentye foir pundis greit be payit to him
5. n. a. In grete, in large quantities, in bulk. Also, in large sums.(1) 14.. Acts I. 61/2.
That na strangear merchand … sall cut claith or sell in penny worthis bot in grete 1482 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 41.
Na merchant … to tap or sell ony floure in small bot in greit 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 127.
The greit and hevy complaynt … that the flesche is … had furth of the realme in greit 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 185.
To sell oney darrar wyne in grete, bot of the prices following 1575–6 Ib. IV. 47.
Nowther fre nor vnfremen … to by fische in greit, nor to forstall the mercat 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 237.
Na hering to be sauld in smallis to the towne darer nor to the cadgeris in greit(2) 1573 Sat. P. xl. 130.
Althocht the prelats gold in greit did geif
b. A groat. (Cf. 4 above.)1480–1 Prestwick B. Rec. 29.
Wrangwisly he helde ane Inglis grete of xvjd fra him 1508 Rentale Dunkeld 45 b.
Twa burdis of beltis of welwois, the price sex schillingis aucht greit
6. adv. a. = In grete, in bulk.1515 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 155.
Bying and selling small and greit contrare the statutis of the toun
b. Greatly, exceedingly; much, very.1560 Rolland Seven S. 8933.
Gif I sa did, I war greit to reprufe Ib. 9608.
Lodwick he thocht greit lang Ib. 10218.
I meruellit greit quhairfoir that thing was wrocht
7. Comb. with beneficit, clannit, growin, hedit, wamit (also wame).c1420 Wynt. v. 1892.
Grete wame [C. gret wayme, W. gret wamyt] wyth barne his lady was 1456 Hay II. 40/7.
Na our grete growin men, na men our fat 1466 Acts II. 85/2.
Barownis, knychtis, … or grete beneficit clerkis 1530 Reg. Soltre 156.
xxvc greit hiddit nalis 1546 Reg. Great S. 757/2.
Throw solistatioun and laubouris of grete clannit men
