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.
Quhitret, n. Also: qwhyt-, quhyt-, quhitt-, whit(t)- and -red, -rat, -rett-; quhithrat, quhitteritt; futret, futherit, Fittret. [Late ME and e.m.E. whytrate, whitratt (Prompt. Parv.), whitrat (1481), perh. from white Quhite adj. 3 and rat.] A weasel; also, a stoat.(a) c1420 Bute MS fol. 170.
Of a tymyr of skynnys of toddys qwhytredys [Acts I 303/2 quhytredys, L. cirogrillorum] martrys kattys beuaris or swylk vthyr a1500 Henr. Fab. 911 (Bann.).
The quherland quhithrat [H., Ch. quhitret] with the wasyll wentt 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxiii.
Martrikis, bevers, quhitredis, and toddis [L. martirillæ, fouinæ, vt vulgo vocantur vulpes mustellæ, fibri, lutræque]; the furringis and skinnis of thaim ar coft with gret price 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 31.
As the quhittrat beand hurt be venome of serpent seikis & eittis thairof c1575 Balfour Pract. 86.
Quhitterittis 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 183.
The quhittret … Ane litill beist of lim and lith And of ane sober schaip 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 65.
That everie bound, bailyie, minister and gentilmane sall present … to the heid court … aither the heid of ane quhytred, craw, corbie or earne 1620 Ib. in Misc. Maitl. C. II 194.
Quhittrettis 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 3.
Brocks skuyrrells whittrets weasels otters 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) The Author's Apology to the Reader.
The argument … which will prove as harmless as a whitred without teeth 1684 Sibbald Scot. Illustr. iii 11.
Mustela vulgaris ea est quæ whitret nostratibus dicitur. Sylvestris (ea quæ waesel) altera major & sævior(b) 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 148.
The Deuill thy maister, appeirit to thé … in the forme of ane four futit beist, and speciallie lyk ane futret Ib. 149.
Futherit
