A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420-1646
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Horsbak, -back, n. Also: horse-. [ME. horsebake (1390), horsbak, -back.]
1. On or upon horsbak (also bakkis). a. Mounted on a horse (or horses), riding. b. Carried on a horse. c. Up on a horse.a. c1420 Wynt. viii. 5803.
On owre hors bakkis than sall we Schwte on thame a1500 Bk. Chess 638.
All thing to do on horsbak & on fute 1513 Doug. vi. xv. 80.
Quhidder so aganyst him he went on feit, Or ȝit on horsbak 1538 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 91.
The persouns abouewrittin till be on horsback with fute mantill [etc.] 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 180.
The tutor of Pitcurre … was tane at the port vpon horsbake 1587 Acts Jas. VI (1597) c. 34.
Sik as accompanies nocht the Kingis Majestie, on hors-bak, … salbe repute for absentes 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xcv.
Ane man on hors bak, lyand bak owirb. 1456 Acts II. 47/1.
Of gret stallis of merchandice … quhilkis cumis on hors bakkis or coueryt cramys 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 201.
Ony … aitis or horse corne cummand to this toune vpoun hors bakkis 1561 Peebles B. Rec. 276.
That na coupparis by na mair meill nor he will turs away … on horsbakc. 1596 Dalr. I. 163/14.
King Gald, … spangis vpe on horse back, and flies af the feild 1646 Maxwell Mem. I. 336.
He mounted himselffe on horsbake without ony helpe
2. The back of a horse. 1621 Maxwell Mem. I. 327.
For sum greis to the hors bakkis
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"Horsbak n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/horsbak>
