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.
Quhattin, adj. Also: quhattine, -ane, whaten. [Reduced f. Quhatkin adj.; also e.m.E. whattin (once, 1600). In the mod. dial. Sc. and north. Eng. as whatten etc.] Only quhattin a(ne). In simple interrog., or passing into exclamatory, use: What kind of, how remarkable a, what a remarkably, what a. = Quhatkin adj. 2 b, Quhat adj. 11. In a. direct, and b. indirect, speech.a. a1568 Scott xxviii 16.
Quhattane ane glaikit fule am I To slay myself with malancoly 1562-3 Winȝet II 33/27.
Quhattin a temptatioun think we it to hef bene quhen that mischeuous Nestorius … began to ryue the flok of Christe 1567 Crim. Trials I i 494.
Jesu, Patt, quhattin ane gaitt is this we are gangand? I trow it be not gude! 1670–80 Dauney Anc. Sc. Melodies 57.
Whaten a ȝeapin carle art thou!b. 1562-3 Winȝet I 57/17.
And sua … quhattin a papist I am in this samin ruid buik of questionis … I tak on hand to preue … the maist haly martyris … to hef bene the samin papistis Ib. II 32/22.
I wate nocht treulie quhattin a grete maister is signifiit and of sa grete science that he mot appere to his awin scoleris to knaw nocht only [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 119/7.
Bot seing mony, this day, of Scotland, I can nocht tel in quhattine a wod furie ar fallin
