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.
Howlat, Howlet, n. Also: howlatt, houlat, -let(t. [ME. howlott (c 1450), e.m.E. howlet (1549), F. hulotte, hulote (16th c.).] An owl.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 48.
I sawe ane howlat … vndir ane holyne c1475 Wall. x. 135.
So feryt it … How a howlat complend off his fethrame c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 219.
Than fleis thow, lyk ane howlat chest with crawis 1531 Bell. Boece II. 210.
Ane sparhalk wes strangulat be ane howlat c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6315.
The bak, the howlat, febyll of thare eis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 103.
To fight against schaddowes and howlatis, that dare not abyde the lycht a1585 Polwart Flyt. 189 (T).
Quhair howland howlattis ay do hant 1626 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 466.
The abbuse of this … kirk be wyld foullis, namelie the howlattattrib. 15.. Berdok 26.
Quhen he come hame, it was ane howlat nest, Full of skait birdis 1600 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 95.
Scho said wordis tuiching the houlat hart to be rubbit to ane mannis shuldeir(b) 1513 Doug. xii. xiii. 168.
In lyknes of a fowle, Quhilk we a litil howlet cleip, or owle 1533 Boece xi. v. 414.
Ane spar halk be the howlet claucht was be the thrott 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1092.
To the howlet … I laif my gaye galbarte of grene 1570 Sat. P. xv. 53.
Ȝe gleds and howlets, rauins and rukes 1596 Dalr. II. 45/28.
Thir traytouris, like howlets, culd nocht suffir to sie the bricht lycht of sa meruellous vertue 1600-1610 Melvill 25.
Whase ingyne and judgment past me als far … as the aigle the howlet(c) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 56.
[He] durst not cum into hir sicht, Bot lyke ane houlet on the nicht 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxii.
The houlet and the herison, Come with ane feirfull voce
b. transf. Applied to persons.a1605 Montg. Flyt. 267 (T).
Hurkland howlat, have at the! Ib. 428 (H).
Receiv this howlett aff our hands, In name of Mahoune 1616 Crim. Trials III. 588.
The … cowmontie of Ingland … , quhilk mycht leave [= live] … sufficientlie … gif those howlattis and stymeis war schote away 1618 Ib. 462.
The said Johnne being ane fugitiue and ane howlat, nocht appearand in the day 1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 346.
Calling her ill-faced houlett, lyk that catt, thy sister
