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.
Kelty. [Also in the mod. dial. in this and other phrases. Appar. also late e.m.E. (once) to turn (a drinking-vessel) kelty, = to turn it over after emptying it:She set [the mug] to her nose … Until she had supt it all in, Then turning 't Topsey [margin: alias Kelty] on her Thumb Says look, here's Super-naculum; C. Cotton Scarronides or Virgile travestie (1664) 108.Otherwise only Sc. (For the anecdotal derivation from the surname of the Laird of Tulliebole's vassal, see Jam. s.v., quoting Old Statist. Acc. XVIII. 474.)]
To give one kelty, to impose extra drink as a penalty on one who does not drink fair. —1686 Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 32.
Gin we chance through Humane Frailty, To meet a Lass and give her Kelty [gl. Persuade one to 't tho unwilling] And popp her fou 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1694) 83.
Lord give thy Enemies the Papists and Prelates a full Cup of thy fury to drink; and if they refuse to drink it off, then good Lord give them Kelty [pr. sic; gl. Another cup full of it]
