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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.

Quhite, adj. (adv.) and n.² Also: quhit, qwhit(e, quhyt(e, qwhyt(e, quhytt(e; quyt(e, qwyt; whit(e, whyt(e, whitt, vhyt, whytt; quhyit; quheyit; quheit(e, quheyt(e, quheitt, queyt, wheit; quhet(e; wheet, whett; quheat, wheat; quhat, quhait, quhaytt, whait; Fyte. Compar. and superl. also quhyttar, -er, whitter, quhittast. [Early ME, ME and e.m.E. hwit, wit (c1200), quit (c1250), quite, quitte, white (Cursor M.), quyte (14th c.), whyte (Chaucer), whitte (1422), qwyte (c1425), qwhyet (15th c.), weit, weyte (16th c.), wheat (1556), compar. hwittere (c1200), whitter (c1403), superl. whyttest (1398), OE hwít.]

A. adj. White, in the usual senses and applications.Chiefly attrib.Freq. with connotations of fineness, delicacy, good quality, or the like. Also in various allusive and symbolic applications, see also quhite rose s.v. Rose n. 4.In the earliest (c1150–1300) recorded place-names the commonest forms are wite-, etc., also white-; hwite-, also ywhit-, forms are found from early in the 13th c.; qwit- forms are not attested till early in the 14th c., and the first attested qwhytte-, qwhit- place-name forms are dated 1375 and 1399.Examples of these early forms are (in some cases, however, from later copies):12th century:- 1147–52 Liber Calchou 6.
Wythelawe c1150 Ib. 298.
Vithemer c1165 Coldstream Chart. 6.
Witehou c1200 Liber Calchou 100.
Wytefeld — 1160 Facs. Nat. MSS I 17.
Vhitelawa et Vhitemere13th century:- a1214 Liber Melros 125, 126.
Wittune … Withetune [ed. Wiche-] Ib. 47.
Withithun [ed. -chun] c1230 Liber Dryburgh 117.
Culture mee de Witerig 1235–6 Liber Melros 667.
Ad riuulum de Wythhop a1300 Reg. Dunferm. 105.
Wyteside — a1214 Liber Melros 132.
Whitton 1226 Reg. Episc. Morav. 21.
Et xxx^a acras in Whytefeld apud Rath — a1214 Liber Melros 108.
Hwitheton, Hwit- — a1214 Liber Melros 151*.
Ywittoun14th century:- 1310 Liber Melros 378.
Witeley Ib. 379.
Witley a1400 Reg. Neubotle 24.
Wettebyris ?a1400 Ib. 52.
Wytterigh — 1342 Liber Melros 442.
Whytslade ?a1400 Reg. Neubotle 230.
Whetakyr — c1320 Reg. Great S. 26/2.
Hwytemyr 1333 Liber Dryburgh 256.
Hwytfyld — 1309–10 Reg. Episc. Morav. 149.
Pro terra de Qwytford 1380 Reg. Dunferm. 272.
Qwytchestrys — 1375 Exch. R. II 486.
Willelmi de Qwhyttesoun 1399 Maxwell Mem. I 137.
Terras de Qwhitchestre … in baronia nostra de Hawic15th century:- 1416 Ib. IV 256.
Johannis Quhitlaw 1428 Liber Melros 520.
Qwytelaw 1462 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 368.
Of the landez of the quhitfeld 1466 Chart. Coupar A. II 59.
Qwhytle 1490 Reg. Paisley 265.
Et sic … supra finem occidentalem de le QuhytfauldThe spellings Qwitcestyr (a1182 Chart. Coldstream 18 heading), Quhitlie (1310 Liber Melros 378 heading) and Quhitlaw (1333 Liber Dryburgh) are probably not contemporary.Some later examples are: 1547 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 432.
Cum lie quhyt hilloke 1565–6 Reg. Privy S. V ii 62/1.
Quhite barony 1575 Waus Corr. 58.
Quithillis a1578 Pitsc. I 17/10.
The quhytt kirk of Bricheine 1596 Dalr. I 3/7.
Quhyte craigs 1634 Peebles Gleanings 163.
Quhytstainhill 1664 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 518.
Quheithall (= Whitehall, London)Examples of quhite in early use as a surname or surname element (for further examples and references, see Black Surnames s.v. White, etc.): 1363 Rot. Sc. 876/2.
Johannes Whit 1365 Ib. 892/2.
Johannes Qwyt 1373 Exch. R. II 415.
Compotum … Johannis Wyth 1375 Ib. 489.
Compotum … Gilberti Qwhyt 1376 Ib. 537. 1398 Reg. Episc. Morav. 211.
Johanni Qwhyte burgensi de Invernyss 1434–5 Reg. St. A. 419.
Domino Willelmo Quhit 14.. (?1454) Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 263.
Johannis Quhyit — 1329 Exch. R. I 212.
Roberti Withewyd Ib. 245.
Agnete Whytheuid 1362 Rot. Sc. 859/2.
Adam Whiteheved 1426 Ib. 416.
Andree Quhytbrow

1. Of material things: White in colour.White; lustrous; shining; transparent; light in colour; not otherwise coloured, dyed or marked; colourless; off-white, as greyish-white, yellowish-white, etc.

a. In general use.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xliii 138.
Twa cronis mad wynnly Of spanyst rose & quhyt lely 1456 Hay II 135/12.
For gif he escapis mysalry he sall have the quhite spechis callit morphea 1493 Liber Aberbr. 279.
And fra the Cragwel to the red stane ascendand and tharfra to the tua standand gray stanys and tharfra to the quhit stane a1500 Bk. Chess 49. 15.. ? Dunb. To London in c1500-c1512 Dunb. (S.T.S.) lxxxviii 33. 1513 Doug. vii viii 94.
At the sulphuryus quhite ryvar callit Nar 1531 Vaus (1531) 2.
Sen I may say in gude langage ane quhyt thing ane blak thing 1549 Lamb Resonyng 133/2.
Giff I will say the craw is blak, than ȝow will say that scho is quhytt 1549 Compl. 58/14.
Ane comeit … aperis oft in the quhyt circle callit circulus lacteus 15.. Clar. v 105.
All paithit wes the hall of marbill whyte 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 53.
That how mony colouris that euir this chamæleon change that it can neuir … turne perfytelie quhyte 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 241.
Fyve pleittis of quheit anamaling 1606 Acts IV 295/2.
Gevand … for the richt of patronage … ane quheat rose … in name of blenche ferme 1694 Foulis Acc. Bk. 168.
For a large whyt lam [pr. lain] poringer for milk [12 s.](2) 1603 Philotus 477.
To compair … the quhytest layke bot with the blackest asse c1616 Hume Orthog. 30. 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 92.
Our salt is whitter

b. Of yarn, stuffs, fabrics, hides, furs, etc.; of articles or garments made from any of these; also transf., of persons, esp. religious, wearing white garments, see also Quhit(e) chan(n)on, Quhite frere, Quhite monk.Freq., worn as a mark or symbol of purity, innocence or repentance.Quhite webbis (wobbis), cf. later Sc. white webs ‘a species of woollen cloth’ made ‘about 60 years ago’ (1795 in SND, s.v. White adj. 1 (72)).See also Quhit(e)-ledder n.To haif na (to want) quhite threid, ? to lack money, to be badly off. Cf. the quot. f. Carmichael (No. 751) under 6 below.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ix 55.
His clathis are quhyte … Sete with stanis c1450-2 Howlat 172 (A).
Swannis … In quhyte rocatis arrayd 1495 Treas. Acc. I 233.
viij ellis of chamlet, rede and quhite 1502 Acta Conc. MS XII 84.
Half ane stane of ȝarne of smal quhite woll 1535 Stewart 49829.
Ane freir … of the habite quhite [: Carmelite] 1575 Edinb. Test. III 328b.
Broun pointis … quhite pointis and … threid pointis 1578 Inv. Q. Mary lxxi n.
Ane quhite polk of greit ches men of bane 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 210.
The dewill apperit to him with quhyte rayment 1627 Edinb. Test. LIV 167b.
Sevin ellis quhyte beircorne(b) 14.. Acts I 34/2.
Hukstaris … sal nocht by … woll wrocht na lyttyt na nane bot quhyt woll … outtane the tym of the fayre 1480–1 Prestwick B. Rec. 29.
A quhit elne of clath c1475 Wall. i 242.
A wowyn quhyt hatt scho brassit on 1496 Treas. Acc. I 293.
A quhit hyde to be brestledderis and nekledderis to hamys 1501 Acta Conc. II 489.
Twa paire of gluffis quhit for the doubling of blanchferme of the sammyn landis 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxv.
In riches of quhit and deligat woll 1578 Edinb. Test. VI 197.
Quhyt scheip ledder gluvis 1584 Ib. XIV 132.
Quhyt & gray bukcasie 1623 Fraser P. 236.
Ane quhytt rooge 1662 Moncreiffs 289.
A pair of whit Spanish leather shoes 1685 Mackintosh Mun. 137.
Foure whyt plaids(c) 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 209.
Quhete and ȝallow taffatis Ib. 235.
For ane lyning quhet lamskynnis till it [a livery coat] 1559 Inverness Rec. I 39.
Twa payr quhet hoys(d) 1562 Inverness Rec. I 81.
Ten stanis quheit woll 1566 Ib. 139.
Ane tartan blak and quheit … and ane quheit pled 1569 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 672/1.
With quheit and reid satyne 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 223.
Quheite 1580 Treas. Acc. MS 34.
The quheitt doublait 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 204.
Ane queyt brydill to the geldin broun 1622 Edinb. Test. LI 220b.
Quheyt pairling threid 1648 Ib. LXIII 349.
Tuo quheitt coattis(e) 1580 Coll. Aberd. & B. 391.
Courtingis of bew and quhyit drogitt 1582 Treas. Acc. MS 66.(f) 1617 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 299.
Wheat garmentis 1663–6 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp MS 4.
2 peice of ribbanes, on quheat, ane other purpill(g) 1664 Old Ross-shire I 204.
Too pers of glovs, on per wheet(h) 1575–6 Dumfries B. Ct. MS 20 March.
ix quhat skynnes(2) 1488 Treas. Acc. I 164.
viij elne of cotonyt quhit clath 1493 Acta Aud. 176/2.
A wynd off quhite claith 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV 40.
Quhit clath to be almous clathis 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 82.
Upoun quhyt clayth of silver Ib. 96.
Quhyt hois of quhyt clayth a1578 Pitsc. I 174/12. 1583 Elgin Rec. I 172.(3) 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 363.
Seruands … direct … to Ansterdame to mak merket of braid quhyte wobbis and sum schoirling skynnis 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I 90.
Quhyt webis(4) a1400 Leg. S. xli 165.
Godis angel … That cled hir in a garment quhyte c1420 Wynt. vii 1537.
‘Qwhy is thi clethyng sa qwhyt sene?’ ‘For caus I deyd madyn clene’ 1490 Irland Mir. I 130/11.
In a faire quhit clething, and that betakynnit jnnocence and halines a1500 Rois Garlandis 115.
He wes lichtlyit and cled in quhit claithis for schame 1551 Hamilton Cat. 192. 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 36.
That the said Mariorie sall cum to the place appointit for publitt repentance barfit and bair legit with ane peticot quhit a1568 Bann. MS 86a/45.
The lynning quhyte presentis the innocent And signefeis of conscience clarite 1639 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 59.
Margaret Porter … mad her repentance in quheit scheitts 1671 Kingarth Par. Rec. 78.(5) 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 32.
Sche said God give every ane of them gude of uthir for I haif na quhite threid to quyte him out a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii 71.
Bot want ȝe quhyt threid ȝe can nocht cum speid, Blak walloway mon be ȝour sangtransf. ?1438 Alex. ii 9331.
Mony acquentances thare was sene, Quhyte, rede, ȝallow, blak and grene c1420 Wynt. vii 791.
The ordyr Premonstrens … , That are to say, Chawnownys Quhyt, For swa hewyd is thair habyt c1450-2 Howlat 178. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2550.
And now quhyte as ane freir c1515 Asl. MS I 212/26.
The quhyte heremyte a1540 Freiris Berw. 24 (M).
The freiris of Iacobinis quhyt of hew 15.. Clar. iv 1103.
The quhyt knyght c1562 Reeves Sc. Prose bef. 1600 80.
Certane quhait schawillingis … castand the mir and sence about the pepill — 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 711.
Johnne Irving, called Quhytcloik

c. Applied to various metals, sometimes indicating an alloy with or coating of a paler metal.See also Quhit(e)-irn(e and Quhit(e) silvir b.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii 702.
Wyth scheld and spere off sylvyr qwhyt [C. qwhite] 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 91.
Buttonis of quhite sewing silver(2) 1503 Treas. Acc. II 290.
For … broudering of … ane quhit caip with sonnys of quhit gold 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 81.
Furnist with quhyt buttonis of gold(3) 1506 Edinb. Hammermen 55b.
Ane cap of quhit plait to put out the candillis with(4) 1506 Treas. Acc. III 142.
For v quhit platis of irn to be chargeouris Ib. 354.
For v dosan quhit platis to be lanternis and bowatis

d. Of articles made of a pale and shining metal or alloy.See also Quhit(e) silvir a.Some of the later examples given under (1) perh. belong rather to a above.Also transf., applied to various payments made in (sc. silver) money.(1) 1467 Acts II 88/2.
The quhyt scottis penny 1488 Treas. Acc. I 85.
Thre brokin gilt pecis of siluer … thre quhite pecis 1501 Acta Conc. MS XI 70b.
Payand thairfore [sc. lands] ȝeirly a pare of quhite spurris 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 172.
Quhit chargeour … gilt chargeoris 1590 Nat. Lib. MS 34.2.17, 21.
Ane quheat basing 1610 Edinb. Test. XLVI 174.
The siluir fut of the quhyte cope 1683 Inv. in Donibristle Mun. (Earl of Moray's MSS) 6 (9–10 May).
A whyt dish for holding of water to my ladeys hands(2) 1491 Acts II 226/1.
That ilke gentilman … be sufficiently harnest & anarmit, with bassanat, sellat, quhyte hat, gorgeat [etc.] 1504–6 Treas. Acc. III 90.
For xj pair of for harnes … for vj schapiois and quhit hattis … for iij pair vantbrases 1512 Wigtown B. Ct. 1b.
That all burges & tennandis of the borowlandis haue jak, splentis, sellet, or quhithate wyth speyr [etc.] 1513 Doug. x ix 79.
And all hys armour quhite and burnyst brycht 1515–16 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 36.
A quhythalt 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II 350.
For ane quhit bar loke with ane pair of quhit bands 1554–5 Ib. 305. 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II 138.
The expenssis I hawe debursit upon iron vark: … For viij quhyt crampettis [etc.] … with thar nallis all tynnit 1561–3 Ib. I 432. 1563–4 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 138.
Ane hevi ax, ane quhite spindill of irne 1616 Edinb. Test. XLIX 160b.
Thrie hankis of quhyt wyre … chaiplet wyre … Nevringberg wyre 1621 J. Bell in Glasg. Her. (1864) 25 June.
Quyt clesps 1679 Sc. Ant. IX 108.
For piping 2 s., pane mending 2 s., whit bands 6 d.transf. 1582 Old Ross-shire I 108.
Uplifting … of all casualties under specifeit. … For ilk quhyt unlaw decerned in the baillie courtis iv d. 1663 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 116.
With the quhyte and small teind used and wont 1698 Ib. II 677.
[She is to pay yearly 13 merks of teind and feu duty, and to pay her] whyt teind [to the said John]

e. Of clear or lustrous substances, as water, wine, pearls, glass, and precious stones.Freq. in collocation with clere.See also Quhit(e) wyn(e.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vii 814.
Al the feld, that wes our-sprad With fare quhyte dew 1456 Hay ii 138/33.
The gude water is … quhite and clere wele gustit and lycht 1494 Loutfut MS 10b.
Watter … is ane of the clerast & quhittast & mast clene elementis — 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 21.
Twa spunful of quhyte odoratiue subtile vyne(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 4.
Margaret Vertuyse clere lytil and quhyt Ib. 13.
& for it [sc. the pearl] is quhyt clere schenand c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xxxi 33.
O precius Mergreit, plesand, cleir, and quhit [: delit] a1550 Tayis Bank 82.
This perle polist most quhyt(3) 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 95.
Summa of the hale glas baith pantit and quhyte glas 1534–5 Ib. 128. 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 67.
Ane ring with ane quhyt dyamont 1543 Ib. 111.
Coverit with silver owirgilt with ane quhyte stane 1578 Ib. 265.
Tua grit diamantis … and a quheit sapheir 1579 Ib. 291. 1649 Edinb. Test. LXIV 256b.
Ane pair of whyt lamber bracelets

f. Quhite wand (staff, battoune, rod), carried by officials as a symbol of authority, also by the Devil (in human shape) and his emissaries or devotees.Also, carried as a sign of infectious illness, or of contact with this.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii 1963.
Than this Jhon tuk a qwhyt [C. qwyt] wand, And gave wp in till Edwardis hand Off this kynryk all the rycht 1531 Bell. Boece II 367.
Johne Balliol … come with ane quhit wand in his hand to King Edward … and resignit all richt and titill … to the croun of Scotland be staf and burdoun in King Edwardis handis 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 35.
And also gif I had the quhit wand [pr. wind] I suld tak xx menis wiffis … be the hand that hes playit the huris 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 333. 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 123.
The haill counsallouris to have on the mustour dayes ane quhyte staf 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 90/19.
Constitute vith thair quhyt staffas as sergeantis 1595 Highland P. I 164.
John Auchavulling without the dor with ane quhyte battoune in his hand to keep all folks frae us 1616 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 64.
That his majestie is resolved that you shall have the whyt stafe Ib. 72. 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 43.
The thesaurer … wold rather lay doune his whyte staffe then practise it 1665 Glasgow B. Rec. III 52. ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 23.
His whyte rode (the badge of his office) to bee pulled from him [the Earl of Traqwaire]transf. 1689 Acts XII 49/1.
A motione … that the High Constables whyte safes [sic] may remove likewayes(2) 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 51.
Thom Reid … ane honest wele elderlie man … ane blak bonet on his heid … and ane quhyte wand in his hand 1591 Newes from Scotland in Ib. 221.
That the Devill had appeared … appareled all in blacke, with a white wande in his hande Ib. 222. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 190.
Metting the corne with ane quhyt wand … sua na thing grew that yeir bot fichakis(3) 1499–1500 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 77.
Fyve persouns … to be berares and clengearis … and thir persouns to haif a signe and taikin viz. a littill quhyte wand iij quarteris lang with a hupe of quhyte irne at the end 1512–13 (c1580) Ib. 140.
All sic infectit persouns … [to] haif ane quhyt vand in thair hand, or ane quhyt claith sewit vpoun thair brestis, in taikin of thair seiknes

g. Of certain commodities, sometimes as much to indicate high quality as to differentiate by colour.Quhite paper, paper that is white in colour; blank paper, not written or printed on. To leif paper quhite, to leave it blank.Quhite meile, appar. oat- or wheatmeal (in the mod. dial., oatmeal as distinct from barleymeal). Cf. gray meal.Quhyt candill, appar. only in the east and north-east.See also Quhite-lede n., Quhit(e) wax n., Quhit(e) wyn(e n.; cf. also Quhite-breid n.(1) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 70 (B).
Bot baxtaris sal bake brede bath gray & qwhite 14.. Acts I 312/2.
The past of the halfpeny wastel qwhyte and well bultyd sal wey [etc.] Ib. 313/2, etc. 1503 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 97 (see Quhit(t)-breid n.). 1573 Dundee B. Laws 340.
Ilk baiking of baiks quhyt or gray(2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 265 (Harl.).
Richt as quhite paper is reddy to the prent Off blak and blew fare and foule ymagery 1580 Misc. Bann. C. II 205.
Item fourty litill psalme buikis vnbund of the quhit paper price of the peice vj s. viij d. 1594 Acts IV 57/1.
Thaj wer send bot blank and quheit paper on baith the sydis 1661 Black Sc. Witches 38.
The preins being takin out the holles remained vnclosed as if the samine had been put into whytt peaper — a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxiii 33.
Gif lytill rewarde be in wryting, Better war leif my paper quhyt(3) 1550 Breadalbane Doc. No. 73.
Fourtene bollis gud and sufficient meale … half quhite meile weill schillit 1560 Exch. R. XIX 104.]
[Una celdra … farrine avenatice albe, tribus celdris farrine nigre 1576 Edinb. Test. IV 347.
xij bollis quheit maid in mayne meill, breking meill, stryking meill & quhyte meill c1592 Liber Aberbr. II xxxv.
Quhite ait meill ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 88.
Within this ile thair is sic fair quhyte beir meill maid like flowir 1656 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 162. 1675 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 467.
Whyt meall(4) a1500 Henr. Fab. 286 (Bann.).
A quhyt candill 1569 Inverness Rec. I 180.
xvj s. wortht of quheit candill 1596 Misc. Spald. C. I 88.
Melting away like ane birnand quhyt candle 1597 Ib. 172.
That the Deuill appeirit to thé … in silkin abuilȝeament, withe ane quhyt candill in his hand Ib. 90. 1621 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 118b (14 Feb.).
For ane quarter off quhytt candill to the kirk 1637 Dysart Gleanings 73. 1649 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 781.(5) 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 215.
Cullouris to the … paintouris: … orpanent quhit alm masticot verdgreis [etc.] 1540 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS 54b.
Quhite salt … gret salt 1550 Breadalbane Doc. No. 73 (see Kale n. 1 b). 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 64 (Bann.).
With silkin schakillis and sowlis of quhyte saip 1562 Inv. Wardrobe 158.
The figure of ane doig maid in quhite laym 1564–5 Perth B. Ct. 267 (9 March).
Leikis onȝeonis and quhitcaill 1585 Cal. Sc. P. VIII 75.
Ane letter writtin in quhyit ink 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI 354b.
Four laifis of quhit suker 1593 Brechin Test. I 113b.
Thre pund quheit keill seid a1595 Misc. Spald. C. II xxx.
The frothe of quheit saip 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 40.
Quheit small cord 1618 Ib. 116.
A quheit tow 1618 Acts IV 586/2. 1643 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 182.
Nothing but ane litle quantitie of quhyt moss or fogge 1650 Nicoll Diary 21.
Drawn with quhyte calk 1681 Blackness Customs 10b.
Whit powder sugar

h. Of various crops, freq. appar. with ref. to their quality or degree of ripeness.Cf. blak and gray aitis, brokit aittis, gray corne, s.vv. these words.(1) 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II 47.
Thay payand ȝerelie … v bollis of gude quhyt aitis 1561 Reg. Dunferm. 446.
Quhareof quheit aittis … and of blak aittis Ib. 460.
Quhytte aittis 1565 Inverness Rec. I 127.
Greit quheit aittis … small aittis 1599 Glasgow Prot. X 75.
Sextene bollis victuall, half meill, half quhyte aitis 1629 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 7 May.
xvj bollis eittis half quheyit half blak 1632 Reg. Great S. 681/2.
Albarum avenarum lie quhyt aittis(2) 1597 Paisley B. Rec. 201.
Thre pects quheyt corne eittin … be his hors 1641 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 86.
The white corn of Tyninghame Ib. 87.
All my white corn led the week before, and some much sooner viz. the beir made into malt 1654 Rothesay B. Rec. 1.
For sax pecks quhyt corne eitten and destroyit 1656 Ib. 10.
Thrie pecks quhyte corne skaythit … be his stirks 1666 Ib. 110.(3) 1595 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 96.
Ane boll quhyt pes cost 7 lib. 1598 Lennox Mun. 356.
As to ȝowr quhyit peis, thair is nane to be haid for the present 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 4.
Quhyt pice Ib. 5.
Quhytt peice 1649 Lamont Diary 6.
The wheat pease that came ouer sea 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 595.
Whyt pies

i. Of barrels, chests or boxes: ? Made of Quhite-irne (cf. d above), or ? painted white.(1) 1488 Treas. Acc. I 87.
In a quhite coffre of irne … thre thousand … angellis ?16.. Boyd Fam. P. No. 1.
Thir writtes ar conteined in a quhit buist 1647 S. Leith Rec. 78.
The whyt box was oppened … and there was found in it for privie contracts and privie mariages … [etc.] the sowme of 150 lib. 11 s. 8 d.(2) 1613 Conv. Burghs II 382.
The impost following to be vpliftit … of ilk coffer … ane caice … ane quheit trie … ane punscheon … ane Inglis trie [etc.] Ib. 396.
For lossing and caryeing of ilk squair heavie quhyte pype with Winbridge waires or tries of the lyk quantitie and wecht. … Ilk gritt quhyte pype of dry-wair geir 1625 Ib. III 198.
Ane quhyte trie

j. To mak (also lay) quhite. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 62.
Because thow can nocht mak ane hair quhyt or black 1591 Aberd. Kirk S. in Hay Post-Ref. Ch. Archit. 219.
[Engaged] to set with lym the allegit corndinaris ill to lay it quhyt 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Albo, candefacio: to make white 1600-1610 Melvill 480.
Thy occupatioun [collier] will mar myne [fuller], for thow makes blak, and I mak whait a1605 Montg. Sonn. xii 7.
Can quhytest suanis more quhyter mak the snau?

2. In descriptions of human beings or their persons.

a. Of the hair or beard.Also transf. = white- or grey-haired; fair-haired, and in to-names (see also 9 b (6)).(1) a1400 Leg. S. ix 53.
Fare barbe, … Meyngit with quhyte hare Ib. xviii 225.
Hayre scho had quhyt & streke c1420 Wynt. i 703.
Borne thai ar qwhyt [C. qwhit] of canys, Bathe of hewyd and berde at anys a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 222 (Ch.).
Quhyte [Asl. With] hair as gold kemmit and sched abak 15.. Clar. iv 1197.
And thou faire Heline with thy hairis quhyte(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 20.
Quhen for elde he has quhyt hare 1549 Compl. 15/20.
Nou, quhen my beyrd is be cum quhyt c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 667. 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579) 93.
Cani albi capilli in senectute, quhyte hairistransf. a1568 Kennedy Bann. MS 268a/13.
And now my heid is quhyt and hair [M. Now of my heid is quhyt the hair] 1684 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) Aug.
Umquhill John McClellane called Whyt Johne

b. Of parts of the body, the skin or complexion.Also transf. = white-skinned. ?1438 Alex. ii 10997.
With rede lippis and teith quhyt a1500 Henr. Orph. 367 (Ch. & M.).
Than Orpheus … in his handis quhite his harp can ta Id. Thre Deid Pollis 27.
With palpis quhyt c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 426.
My face quhit Ib. 498.
My lyre quhit 1513 Doug. i ii 37.
I sal coniune to thé … that lilly quhite of swar 1540 Lynd. Sat. 913.
Saw evir man sa quhyt a face, Swa grit ane arme sa fair ane hand c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 141.
Rattilland chenȝeis about his hals so quhite a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxxi 19.
Ane auld gray beird on ane quhyt mouthe to lay In to ane bed it is ane petuous sycht a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxxix 5.
Quhyt ivory hand 1610 Crim. Trials III 195.
The wound of the dead man … being whyte and cleane, without any spot of blodtransf. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 146.
As a blak more of India can not be denominat quhyt be the quhytnes of snau

c. Applied to a woman, as a general term of approbation (cf. b above). a1500 Henr. Thre Deid Pollis 25.
O ladeis quhyt 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 929.
I saw thir lustie Musis quhite c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xxxiii 1.
Lang heff I made of ladyes quhytt [: indytt] 15.. ? Dunb. To London in c1500-c1512 Dunb. (S.T.S.) lxxxviii 46. 1513 Doug. i vii 108.
The Troian madynnys quhite 15.. Clar. ii 1716.
The sex fair virgins, lustie, quhite and small a1585, a1568 Montg. P. i 69.
Perfyter and quhyter Then Venus, luiffes quein c1590 Fowler I 140/5.
Glass of al bontye and of beautye quhyte a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlvii 4.

d. Pale, colourless. c1590 Fowler I 93/188.
Sometymes both whote and coulde, Now whyte, now reid 1629 Elgin Rec. II 211.
Ther faces seimed whyt and as lane

3. In descriptions of animals, birds, fishes, etc.See also Quhit(e)-fis(c)h(e n.(1) 1398 Acts I 212/1.
Owtane qwhite schepe, rydin hors, & drawyn oxin ?1438 Alex. ii 3663.
Hors on mony maneris Brasin and broun, quhyte and gray c1420 Wynt. v 1860.
A quhyte dow a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 895.
Ane blonk, of ane ble quhite 1492 Myll Spect. 286/16.
A quyte bull 1497 Treas. Acc. I 361.
The kingis quhit nag 1507 Ib. IV 76. 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 60 (Bann.).
Thre quhyte quhailis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 348.
The quhyt ky and bullis of the said forrest … hes bein keipit thir mony ȝeiris … and the lyke was not mantenit in ony vther pairtis of this ile of Albion a1586 Lindsay MS 23b.
The hermyne is ane quhyte beist 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 35b (6 Oct.).
Ane gray hors … haifand ane quhyt beld in his foirheid with ane quhyt fute behynd ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 74. 1607 Argyll Acc. MS.
The peg quhaytt nag 1613 Orkn. & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 68.
A quhyt yowe 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 340.
Whett(2) 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 386.
Of the excyse … of all fishes both reid and whytt 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 191.
White flook whereof some are a little blewish, with golden like spots over all the skin

4. Conventional, chiefly poetic, uses.

a. In various comparisons, in senses 1–3.For further examples see Lake n.³, Lillie-flour(e n., Milk n.¹ a (2), Quhalis-bane n. Cf. also Lillie-quhyte adj., Milk-quhite adj., swan-quhite, etc.Also in fig. context. 1375 Barb. viii 232.
Hawbrekis, that war quhit as flour a1400 Leg. S. xxii 590.
A laf quhyt as snaw ?1438 Alex. ii 9769.
Vpone ane stede als quhyte as bane 1456 Hay II 7/4.
The worthy anciene knycht … with … hare quhite as the snawe c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 505.
As milk his hair was quhyte [: plyte] a1500 Henr. Fab. 2395 (Ch.). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 51.
A saill, als quhite as blossum vpon spray 1535 Stewart 36357.
In lynnyng clayth, als quhit as ony milk, Tha wand his cors 15.. Clar. iv 1515.
Intill ane hat of cullour quhyte as floure Ib. 949. a1568 Bann. MS 230b/18.
Quhytter 1598 Melvill Propine 54.
With many maiden white as beane c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxiii 1.
Ane dame moir quheiter than the snawfig. 1533 Gau 63/29.
For giff ȝour sinnis be reid as blwid ȝeit thay sal be quhyt as snaw [etc.]

b. Quhite and red, red and quhite, ‘pink and white’, fresh, young; lovely. c. Coupled with clene or fare. Cf. also 7 below.b. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 93.
Schame is to-day be quhit & red And one the morne waloyt as a wed c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) l 6.
Amang the tendir odouris reid and quhyt 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 111.c. a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 105.
A knaf chyld, Fare & quhyt, as vatir fame Ib. xxxiv 123. c1400 Troy-bk. i 264.
The herbis quhyt & clene [pr. grene] c1420 Wynt. v 1381.
The corporalle Off clene lynt … Fayre and quhyt [C. qwyt, W. quhit] but ony lyt Ib. i 218. 1456 Hay II 143/34.
Apon a fair fut-schete quhite and clene 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 62. 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 283.

5. In various of the above senses and applications in quhite cullour (hew) or cullour quhite: = B 1 below.(1) 14.. Acts I 29/2.
The clathing sall be of a hew grysande or quhyte 1456 Hay I 99/20.
And syne he spekis of the quhite colouris Ib. 283/31.
The quhyte colour, … next the asure, is the maist noble colour … be caus that it is maist nere the nature of lycht and claritee and for the clerenes of it Ib. 284/6. a1540 Freiris Berw. 471 (M).
For colour quhyt it will to no man deir And ewill spreitis quhyt colour euer will fle 1565 Gathering of the Halie Signes 19.
Vestimentis … of quhite cullour and not littit(2) a1540 Freiris Berw. 24 (B).
The Iacobene freiris of the quhyt hew Ib. 460.
In liknes of a freir In quhyt cullour 15.. Clar. iv 1570.
The knightis entering so in culloure quhyte(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xvi 76.
Man may … for his hevin ressaif hir cullour quhyt [: redomyt, perfyt] a1568 Steel Bann. MS 235a/13.
Thy cullour quhyte c1590 J. Stewart 142/20.
With the luisteur of ȝour color quhyt Annamell all my blobit dull indyt(4) 1513 Doug. viii i 57.
A mekill swyne, … Of cullour quhite(5) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) l 142.
As the fresche ros of cullour reid and quhyt

6. In proverbs and proverbial expressions. 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 78.
The blak craw thinkis hyr awin byrdis quhite 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 80.
As the crau thinkis hir auin bird quhytest, albeit it be neuer so blak a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 40. Ib. No. 751.
He that hes a quhite cote neids not to borrow Ib. No. 1313.
Quhite aines are ay tender 1675 Cramond Ch. Fordyce 49.
& praying God to make the children of the towne of Fordyce as scarce as the whyte corbies

7. In fig., transf. or allusive use.Cf. the note to 1 above.

a. Of a person: Morally or spiritually pure. a1400 Leg. S. x 37.
He mad thare hartis quhyt as snaw Ib. xxviii 29, 31.
Mary [was] … clere quhyt thru vergynite … sa is Margarit quhyt & clene of al fleschly delyt a1500 Henr. Garmont 10.
Hir sark suld be hir body nixt Of chestetie so quhyt 1490 Irland Mir. I 81/28.
The sacrament of pennaunce … makis the saule quhit and clene as the snaw a1568 Scott xxxvi 31.
I salbe clengit clene as steill And quhyttar than the snaw gret deill a1568 Bann. MS 256b/1.
My hart is quhyt and no delyte I haif of ladeis fair

b. Of words: Fair-seeming, specious, plausible.Cf. later Sc. dial. white-wind, ‘flattery, wheedling’ (Jam.), fite-moo'ed ‘mealy-mouthed, plausible’ (SND, s.v. Fite adj, n. 4). a1500 Henr. Fab. 601 (Bann.).
This feynit fox may wele be figurate To flatteraris with plesand wirdis quhite a1500 Lay of Sorrow 37.
For thoucht I pleyne I gete bot wordis quhite c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) lii [A] 48.
Him followit mony freik dissymlit With fenȝeit wirdis quhyte, And flattereris … And bakbyttaris 1513 Doug. i xi 34.
Hys dissemblit slekit wordis quhite

8. quasi-adv., in instrumental sense: With white (covering or colour); in white.See also 9 c below, and cf. B 2 a (1) below. a1500 Henr. Thre Deid Pollis 18.
O wantone ȝowth, als fresche as lusty May, Farest of flowris, renewit quhyt and reid 1503 Treas. Acc. II 203.
For tua broket hidis to covir ane sadil quhit for the king c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 12 (Ch. & M.).
Apparalit quhite and rede wyth blomes suete Anamalit was the felde wyth all colouris 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 82.
And furnist with buttonis ennamelit blew and quhyt 1579 Ib. 294.
Tuelf sapheiris of a les sort set in gold emailled quheit 1585 Ib. 320.

9. comb. a. With another adj. of colour: see Quhite-gray adj.

b. In parasynthetic combinations, in various prec. applications.Also in the to-name Quhyteheid.(1) 1479 Hist. Carnegies 20.
A sesing ox, gra hornyt and quhit chekit 1549–50 Ayr B. Ct. & Council Bk. 20 Jan.
Ane young kow broun cullour … quhite vambit 1563 Prot. Bk. J. Drummond 30.
Ane [ox] quhite garit 1572–3 Elgin Rec. I 135.
Ane blak quhyt hornit cow 1580 Hume Promine 101.
The wilde quhite cullourit ky 1581 Crail B. Ct. 11 July.
The pryce off ane blak hors quheyte mowtheit 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII 187b.
Ane basin broun staig quhit faist 1669 Kelso Baillie Ct. 46b.
Ane gray horse … whyte hoofed in the faresyde(2) c1515 Asl. MS I 166/28.
Sum ar quhyte harit in thare ȝouthhed 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 58/98.
The olde quheit hayrid man 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii 329.
These white cross'd knights with their eight pointed crosses(3) 1572 Edinb. Test. II 222.
Sex dosane quhit burdit cardis 1643 Ib. LX 233.
Elevin quhyt heftit knyfes 1657 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 140.
A whyte broddit book 1666 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 540.
For tuo quhit tuilled capis at night(4) 1601 Tailor's Acc. Bk. 14.
Ȝour quhite hewed London claith(5) 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 441.
A heavy doom is for the liar and white tongued flatterer(6) 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 707.
Johne Armestrang called Quhyteheid Ib. 713.
Jok Bell callit Quhyteheidis Jok

c. Quhite anamelit, cf. 8 above. 1516 Inv. Wardrobe 27.
Ane schaffroun with ane chenye of gold quhite anamelet velvot 1542 Ib. 80.
Ane gown … garnist with xviii closerris … quhyt ennamelit and sex buttonis … quhyt ennamelit Ib. 81. 1568 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 644/1.
Ane cowter of gold with ceyphres and roissis quheit and reid inamelit … ane pendent of cyphres wiolet and quheit inamalyt 1579 Inv. Wardrobe 289.
A chayne … with … knoppis of gold betuix quheit ennamalit

10. In various special phrases.

a. Whyte assyze, an assize ? before which no charges are preferred, or ? whose conclusion is foregone by collusion. a1650 Row 292.
The poore [murdered] man's friends being satisfied with a peece of money, none being to pursue the murder, he [sc. the murderer] was by moyen cleansed by a whyte assyze, (as they call it,) and lett go free 1684 Lauder Notices Affairs II 544.
Which is meerly done of collusion and designe to get ane absolvitor, by a white assyse, for lack of probation

b. Quhite craft, the trade of glovers. Cf. Quhit(e)-ledder n. 1569 Aberd. B. Rec. MS (Jam.).
Robert Huchunsoun deikin of the quhite craft callit the gloveris

c. Quhite ferme. = Blancheferme n. 1582 Perth B. Ct. 28 May.
For ȝerlie payment of ane penny money … in name of quhite ferme Ib. 18 Dec.
Quhyt ferme

d. Quhyte heiring, herring salted or pickled rather than smoked. Cf. med. L. allec album, id. (1309), ME white heryng (c1420), also Red(e adj. Also in this sense in the later dial. 1613 Crim. Trials III 244.
Buirdit ane Yarmouth bark and tuik furth thairof thre caidis of reid heiring and ane half barrell of quhyte heiring

e. Quhyt land (also fauld, yaird), land left unploughed, as fallow land, stubble land, old pasture, etc. Cf. Red ppl. adj. 1 and Rede ppl. adj. a, also e.m.E. white land, land of poor quality (1677).(1) 1459 Rep. Hist. MSS, Var. Coll. V 82.
And qwasom of thir forsayd tenandis falt in othyr red land he sal er hym als mykyl quyt land 1582 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone 19b.
The said haill landis … lyand … woid and quhit and na plewcht streikit thairin … sen the last harwist 1632 Cullen B. Rec. 21 Dec.
And siclyk ilk swyn [which] beis found outwith houss … wpone quhyt land or reid land or howand erd to be poyndit 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 226.
Ane aicker off whitt land in ilke corne yeard of thrie yearly during the space underwryten to be choysed and divydit in manner underwritten viz. the said James Gordoune [etc.] … to have ane aicker of the ley yeard at any syd therof they please choyse. … Ane uther aicker of whytt land in the avald yeard or secund cropt yeard to be choysed … of indifferent land. … Ane uther aicker of whytt land in the third cropt yeard to be choysed … with ane aicker of beirland(2) 1642 Rothesay B. Rec. 935.
The fauld besouthe the rid loneing … the loneing fauld … the quhytfauld 1659 Rothesay B. Rec. 963.
The wheit fauld(3) 1399 Carnegie Lett. 500.]
[Et toftam de Quhitfauldis 1533 Boece 510.
Apoun ane suleȝe callit the quheitland, he foundit ane parisch kirk 1590 Exch. R. XXII 511. 1593–4 Ib. 559.
Quhityaird

f. Quheit (whyt) croft, ‘a piece of land sub-let from a larger farm and worked by the sub-tenant himself’ (SND, s.v. White adj. 1 (16)). 1591–2 Exch. R. XXII 542.
Terrarum de Quheitcroft 1668 Ellon Par. 129.
Everie tenant is stented to pay 12 s. … and everie whyt croft 6 sh.

g. Quhite plague. ? Cf. mod. Eng. white death a name for tuberculosis (1901). — 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 83.
That the blak plague doeth greatly rage in … places in the Baltick Sea, and that the disease commonlie called the new whyte plague or fever incresces daylie in the provinces of Holland, being verie infective and mortall

h. Quhite dry scheipe pudding, cf. later Sc. white pudding (1769 in SND, s.v. White adj. 1 (50) (i)). — 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 78.
That scho sta out of Jamis Erasmussonis skeo certane quhyt dry scheipe pudding with twa birskettis of ane scheipe

B. noun, also ellipt. or absol. as noun.

1. The colour white; whiteness. c1420 Wynt. i 1010.
Syne is a land cald Albany That qwhyt betakynnys propirly 1513 Doug. i Prol. 27.
Or quhat compar is betwix blak and quhyte? 15.. Clar. iv 996.
For … of quhyt was all his hew, His scheild, his speir, himself [etc.] 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 135. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 42.
[The chamæleon] imitatis all hewis except onelie the quhyte and reid 1622-6 Bisset II 125/24. — 1513 Doug. viii i 64.
The cite hait fair Alba of delyte … fra the fair cullour quhite

b. In fig. and symbolic contexts. Cf. A 7 above.To mak (blak, of blak) quhyt, cf. A 8 above.(1) 1456 Hay I 284/6.
And this coloure of quhite representis the water, the quhilk efter the aire is the maist noble element 1535 Stewart 127.
My langage is both gros and rude … And [I] knawes no cullour bot other quhit or blak. Went to the court quhair makaris … kennis cullouris of mony diuers hew 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
Quhyte quhilk is … the symboll … to signifie sempilnes and loyaltie 1597 Melvill 438.
We saw the sunne … Begin to lose his light and turn to blak, Whilk piece and piece his whait did weare away 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 449.
Some few years will bring us all out in our blacks and whites before our Judge(2) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 155.
Thai luf nocht to mak of blak quhyt, Mak gud man ill, na ill man qwyt 1570 Lennox in Campbell Love-lett. Mary (1824) 229.
To mak black quhyte, or innocency to appear quhair the contrary is sa weill knawin

2. In various absol. uses of A 1 above, applied to a. Stuffs, garments, etc. b. Paints, etc. c. transf. Persons.Also proverb.a. sing. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 413.
The folk … All cled in quhyte 1455 Acts II 43/2.
That all erlis sall use mantillis of brown granyt … furryt with quhyt c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) iii 26 (Asl.).
For scorne thai cled Hym in to quhyte [: delyte, smyte, tyte] 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 13.
Gevin for v dowsoun of grete genȝeis gluvit witht quheit for the walter 1569 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 672/1.
Thre leache coitis of crammosie satyne, pyenit with quheit 1617 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 315.
If they [sc. angels] could cum doune in wheat(2) 1457 Acts II 49/2.
That na lauboraris nor husbandis weir on the werk day bot gray and quhit 1473 Treas. Acc. I 13.
ij elne of quhite 1483 Acta Conc. I *83/2.
xj elne of smal quhite price of the elne xl d., threttene elne of grete quhite price of the elne xvj d. a1500 K. Hart 474.
I will no colour reid Nor lusty quhyt vpone my bodie beir 1512 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 185.
j pec of presit quheit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3. 1564–5 Treas. Acc. XI 348.
ij elnis of reid and quhite 1597 Melvill 432.
Cled in whait(3) 1502 Halyb. 275.
10 stekis Pabyllis quhit 1621 Reg. Great S. 45/1.
Lie Galloway quhyte 1676 Conv. Burghs 671.
Plaiding and fingrains, … kerseyes and Galloway whyttpl. 1462 Peebles B. Rec. I 148.
The poyndyng of quhitis and ladis of skinnis or hidis 1477 Edinb. Chart. 141.
And all vthir claith quhitis [pr. quhicis] … and al lynnyng claith to be sald thare 1531 Bell. Boece I xxvii.
Dunfreis, quhair mony small and deligat quhitis ar maid 1582 Edinb. Test. XII 4b.
Sex scoir ellis of gros quhytis 1584 Ib. XIII 186.
Four steikis of schippis quhytis 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 364.
Thomas Inglis [sold] certane braid quhytes and … certane quhyte wobs — 1714 Conv. Burghs V 111.
Gallaway whitesb. 1502 Treas. Acc. II 69.
vj unce grene vj unce quhit and vj unce blew 1505 Ib. III 55.
For the quhet … and for gold to be bocht in London for the payntour 1573 Inv. Wardrobe 195.
Fyftene dyamontis all set in gold inammalit with quhyte Ib. 278.
Buttonis … amalyeit with quheit and reid … and … with quhite and blak Ib. 279, etc.c. a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii 101.
This sang of thre lassis … The first wes ane quhyt a las of delyt Ib. heading.proverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 190.
Ane ell of blak is worth tuo of whyt 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 145.
Entre nous autres gentils-hommes il n'y a point de bourgois, as give ye would say, among 10 whites their is not a black

d. spec. Applied to the heraldic tincture argent. — 1494 Loutfut MS 10b.
The second metall is quhit that men callis in armorie colour of siluer

3. The white part of the target in archery. Also fig. 1456 Hay II 149/10.
He that tuichis nerest the quhite and best gais nere the merche a1568 Norvell Bann. MS I p. 12/15.
Ane blind man … can nocht lichtly hit the quhyt 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 381.
There are more than three strings upon our Lord's bow; and, besides, He cannot miss the white that He shooteth at

4. The white of a. the human eye, b. an egg.Also, appar., rendering L. albugo a disease of the eye, a white spot or cataract.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2053 (Ch.).
The quhyte of his ene he turnit vp 1614 Ellon Presb. 93.
They wha haid the feveris wald have ane blew rim about the quhyt of their eyen 1623 Orkney Witch Trial in Dalyell Darker Superst. 8.
Scho lukit over her shoulder, and turned up the quhyt of her eye(2) 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579) 42.
Albugo, alba macula in oculo: & album oui quod albumen sæpius dicitur, the quhyte of the eye or eg 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Albugo, the white of the eye, or of an egge: albumen(3) 1629 Boyd Last B. 261.
Like a squissed egge, whose yolke is mingled with its white