A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Put, Putt, n.1 [ME (c 1300), late ME and obs. mod. Eng. put, putt act of thrusting or pushing (c 1430), a push, also act of casting a weight (c 1300), f. Put,v.]
1. A push, thrust or shove; the action of pushing.Also fig.To len(d, also give, (something) a put, to push or help in pushing it.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii 3507 (R, W) (see Put v. 1). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 231.
I wald a tender peronall, that myght na put thole, That hatit men with hard geir, for hurting of flesch, Had my gud man to hir gest 1558-66 Knox Hist. (1644) 117.
When it begins at us God knows … who shall bide the next put(2) a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 492.
If I can get his cairt at a walter, I shall ned it a put a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 555.
Get I your waine at a wolting, I sall len it a put 1633 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 89.
I … shall … suit my Lord to … give you and your burdens a put up the mountain(3) fig. 1596 Dalr. I 312/4.
From the putt [L. impetus] of a noble spirit … thay namet him a hartie horsman
b. A nudge; an admonitory prod.a1599 Rollock Wks. II 511.
But … he will come and give them a putt with sharpness and mercy, and waken them a1658 Durham Blessedness Death (1713) 121.
We will, to speak so, take both a put and a call to make us advance towards death 1678 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 535.
Satan will be touching about the heart, and giving it a put now and then
2. A venture or undertaking. To make (one's) put(t good, to succeed in an undertaking.(1) 1661 Some of the Last Words of Mr. Rutherford in Rutherford Lett. (1881) 26.
And I spake it with much trembling fearing I should not make my putt good 1669 Misc. Hist. Soc. VI 214.
I am glade the matter of the Highlands is like to settle; yow have indeed made your put good(2) a1689 Cleland 15.
It would be a difficult task … to tell, Which … doeth most excel, Bachus, Venus, Mars, … Foresooth it were a kittle put c1700 Pennecuik Poems 328.
