A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1490-1500, 1630-1665
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Net, Nett, a. [ME. net (14th c.), e.m.E. net, nett(e, F. net, nette, also Du. net, Da. net, etc., of the same origin: cf. also Nete (and Nyte adv.).]
1. Clean, unsoiled, unsullied, in lit. and fig. senses; (of a mirror) unclouded. = Nete a. 1.1490 Irland Mir. I. 23/24.
As in a cleire & nett meroure 1490 Ib. 101/10.
The nobile lady, moder of God, had been consauit net and clene 1490 Ib. 131/33, 136/31. 1494 Loutfut MS. 39 a.
A man … clene & net of consciens 1630 Edinb. B. Rec. VII. 87.
[A] certain nomber of pompes for the better and more clein and nett service of the leidges
2. quasi-adv. (Only in Halyburton.) a. As the weight remaining after the deduction of all tares. b. As an exact weight.1496 Halyb. 26.
2 sekis off woyll … an veit 7c net and tothir weyt 7c 2 stane 1498 Ib. 206.
Item bocht … a kyst off sucur cost 3½ gr. the li., weand net 204 li. 1500 Ib. 265.
3. Neat, efficient. = Nete a. 3.1665 Lauder Jrnl. 96.
In shaving a man, its impossible for a Frenchman to cut a man; they have such a net way of baging the flech
