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.
Quhilest, adv. and conj. Also: quhylest, quhillest, qwilast, whilst. [ME and e.m.E. quilest, -ist, quylest, -ist (c1375), qwhilste (1435), whylst (c1450), var. of Quhilis.]
1. adv. phr. Ay and a (on) quhilest (quhill or at), until (? with emphasis on the aspect of duration).See also Aquhilest.1426 Laing Chart. MS No. 105.
To … ressafe … annuale rent … of my landis … ay & a qwilast at thare be made to thaim … twenty markis worth of my said landis in gaynand place 1456 Wemyss Chart. 77.
To be haldyn … blanche ferme … ay and on quhilest quhill … Shir Andro … optene … all the forsaid landis
2. conj. a. Until. = Quhilis conj. 1. b. While. = Quhilis conj. 2. Also quhillest as, id.a. a1599 Rollock Wks. II 22.
Thou shalt not come back, whilst thou comest to extreme induration [etc.] —b. 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 4.
According to the parliament held quhylest scho wes in Lochlevin 1583 Colville Lett. 39.
Quhilest 1633 Johnston Diary I 31. a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 428. —1583 Colville Lett. 39.
And quhillest as I lay in this sort … I receaued [etc.]
