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.
Kilt, v. [North. ME. and e.m.E. kilt (a 1340), kylte, of Scand. origin: cf. Da. kilt(r)e op, Sw. dial. kiltra sej, ON. kilting n. ‘shirt bosom’. In the mod. dial., north. Eng. and Sc.] tr. To kilt or tuck up (one's clothes or skirt), round the body. b. To tie, hoist, or ‘string up’ (a person), to hang. —1513 Doug. i. vi. 27.
Venus … Ane active bow apon hir schuldeir bar … Hir skyrt kiltit til hir bair kne 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1376.
Kilt vp ȝour claithis abone ȝour waist Ib. 1380.
Help me for to kilt my clais a1568 Bann. MS. 156 a/38.
I saw ane wran ane watter waid, Hir clais wer kiltit hieb. a1689 Cleland 30 (J).
Their bare preaching now Makes the thrush-bush keep the cow, Better than Scots or English kings Could do by kilting them with strings
