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.
(Quhite-cote,) Quhit-cote, n. Also: quhyt-, whyt(e)- and -cott, -coite, -coitt. [e.m.E. white coat (1555).] An English soldier, wearing a white or light-coloured coat.a1538 Abell 120b.
The skaith done on the borduris be the Inglis men of the borduris & the quhit cotis 1542 Hamilton P. I 157.
That the kyngis capytainys of hys gairnysonnys of the quhyt coittys [etc.] dyd mak ane royde in Scottysland Ib. 158. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 91.
Thare began flyting … Away blewcoate! I defy thé whytcoite! [Trans. whytecott] a1578 Pitsc. II 169/27.
The Frinchemen wschit out … to the trinchis quhair the Inglisch quhyt cottis lay and slew ane hunder of thame
