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.
Gust, Guste, Goust, v. [e.m.E. gust (1631), ME. (rare) gusten (c 1430), L. gustāre.]
1. tr. To taste; to test by tasting.c1460 Thewis Wysmen 40.
Vysdome … is … suetar … Than erdly thing that man may gust a1500 Henr. III. 131/54.
Remember him that on the tre For thi saik gustit bittir gall a1500 Doug. K. Hart 657.
Quha gustis sweit, and feld never of the sowre, Quhat can he say? 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Pray. 14.
Purge the ruiffe of my hart, that I may teast the sappe, and goust the sweitnes of this celestial fuid 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 150.
They are not reddie to taist or guste the aill, sa oft as the browsters hes tunned it Ib. 151.
They sell the aill before it be gustedfig. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 24.
Having anys gustit how gude fischeing it is in drumly watter
2. To take a taste, feel the taste, of something.1490 Irland Mir. I. 65/3.
Nocht that he had levit euir mare, and he had gustit of that froit Ib. 79/5.
Gustand of that froit a1500 Bk. Chess 1160.
Quhen he gustit of the wyne he wrocht a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 363.
Set of syn he gustit of the gall He torned but tary to grace 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xli.
Be thair bot ane beist … that hes nocht gustit of this meit, the tod will cheis it out
3. To please with a relish.a1500 Henr. Fab. 287.
Ane quhyte candill … In steid of spyce to gust thair mouth withall
4. intr. a. To be agreeable to the taste. fig.1490 Irland Mir. I. 36/22.
Persauand … the sueitnes of the divinite, nathing gustis with us bot it that emplesis him c 1638 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 265.
Thes lynis will not gust to thy palat
b. To have the taste of something.1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xli.
Toddis will eit na flesche that gustis of thair awin kind c1590 J. Stewart 76/103.
The hiche triumphe … To disapoynt, and of na grace may gust
