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: 1400-1598, 1651
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Nothing, -thyng, n. and adv. [Midl. and south. ME. nothing, no þing, used in place of Nathing.] 1. n. Nothing.(1) c1420 Wynt. ii. 540.
Throwcht the Kyng … That … off Joseph no thyng knewe c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 909. c1460 Consail Vys Man 381.
As lekand weschell haldis no-thinge c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ii. 188.
For off my lyff ellys no thing I roucht c1475 Ib. vi. 101.
It is nothing till hewynly gowernance 1487 Brus ix. 164 (C).
Thai had no-thing for to et a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 810.
My awne grevans I compt no thing a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 290.
For no thing that may be 1531 Bell. Boece I. Proh. ix.
Sen that no thing may let Bot [etc.] 1535 Stewart 40113. 1535 Ib. 23424, 47984.
Ail this he schew … and in nothing wald lane How Makcobey [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. i. 15, etc. 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 72. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 106/1. c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 65.
In all the earth is no thing wer … Nor heicht into ane minister 1558-66 Knox II. 424. a1570-86 Clapperton Maitland Folio MS lxxix. 28.
Ane schrew Quhilk dois nothing of chalmer glew(2) 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 154/35.
For we call no thing propirlie the mes bot [etc.] 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I. 121.
Quhilk wilbe nothing els bot deed gres [etc.] 1651 Strathbogie Presb. 196.
He knew no thing bot honestie to him
2. adv. Not at all.(1) a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 57.
Pryd gais no-thing be the clais c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1391, 2259, 2849. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 635.
I … knew no thing thair thocht a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1224 (Asl.).
Ȝour baggis than may no thing beit ȝour bale c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 157. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 618.
It is nothing regardit 1569 Warrender P. I. 67. 1570 Leslie 55.(2) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 1409.
Sic luff as that is nothing till awance a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 96. c1500 Crying of Play 52.
The las was no thing sklender c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 60.
In to vthir science no thing slie 1513 Doug. xii. xii. 207.
Thus said he and no thyng in vane
