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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scald, v.¹ Also: skald; scawde; skaude; scall; scad, skad; scade; skaid; schald. [ME and e.m.E. schalde(n (Ancr. R.), skalde(n (a1300), scalde(n (Rolle), scolde(n (1340), OF eschalder, eschauder (c1160 in Larousse), escauder (13th c. in Godefroy), to burn, scald, late L. excaldāre to wash in hot water.]

1. tr. Of fire: To scorch or burn.Also of the fire of Purgatory. 1513 Doug. iv x 89.
The … blesys of hait fyre Reddy to byrn thi schippys … And al the cost belyve of flambys scald Ib. xii v 199.
A byrnand schide … That blesyt vp hys lang berd … Quhilk scaldit thus a strang fleur dyd cast — 1567 G. Ball. 187.
Bot all pure folk … [in Purgatory] Was skaldit baine and lyre

b. With personal subject: To burn (a person) by way of punishment. Also absol. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4020.
Thow art … Ane schameles schrew, the maister deuell mot scald thé 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (STS) 400.
Ȝit war thay not cummit to that furie & rage as to bruyle and scald quha sa euer suld speik aganis thame, bot contentit thame selfis with presoun or banischement of sic persones as war contrarious to thameabsol. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4642.
Christis trew disciplis all … To byrne and skald thay neuer pretendit. The pope defendis his traditioun Be flammand fyre

c. To hurt by, or as by, the action of hot steam or liquid. Also absol. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 158/864.
The sliddrie vreter, carier of Salt vrine skalding [v.r. skadding] sore 1662 Crim. Trials III 613.
The first handis that handles thé, Brunt and scalded sall they be

2. transf. To affect (something) in a way comparable to the effect produced by the action of hot water or steam; to damage severely. a. Of words, etc. b. Of a sore. c. Of heavy rain.a. 1513 Doug. i Prol. 258.
The quent and curyus castis poeticall [etc.] … Caxtoun for dreid thai suld hys lippis scald [Sm. scawde, 1553 skaude] Durst nevir twichb. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 94 (T).
With pottingeris poulderis except thow ovrsmeir That scab that ȝe beir will scall thé to the schoulderisc. 1699 Belhaven Rudiments 12.
For oft-times a sudden spait of rain scalds the tender grain

d. Of thoughts or cares: To inflame or irritate (a person, his or her mind). a1400 Leg. S. xviii 961.
Quhene sick thocht can me schald 1513 Doug. vii vi 10.
The bissy curis of Turnus mariage Skaldyng hir breist and mynd half in a rage

3. To cleanse, wash out or sterilise with boiling water. 1568 Canongate & Broughton Ct. Bk. in Misc. Maitl. C. II 314.
[In time of plague persons taking money must put it] in an veschel and skaid the samyn thatt it may be purifeit fra all contagiousnes a1585 Polwart Flyt. 237 (T).
Syne sup sex soipis but sumthing thin Of the deill scad [H. scade] thy guttis with in To haill thé of the skitter

4. proverb. To cause (one's lips) to be scalded or burned by eating hot food. Also with reflexive object. 1584 Calderwood IV 131.
To forge a querrell … and skad your lippes in other men's kaile a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1340.
Scad not your lips in other folks caill — a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 784.
And thow skip as thow skoupe thow wilt skad thee

5. intr. To suffer the effects of excessive heat; to faint or swoon in consequence of (with) this; to shrivel up. 1513 Doug. xiii iv 86.
Scho scaldis, and with mony wrikis and thrawys Presys forto eschew the feirfull heit c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xiii 6.
Bot vthir sede … quhen the sonn was risen, thai scaldit; and for thai had nocht rute, thai dryet vp Id. Rev. xvi 9.
Men scaldit with gret heet 1531 Vaus (1531) 2 (de verbo).
The inchoatiue forme, as feruesco calesco. I begin to scald or to hete

b. fig. To burn with (in) strong emotion or desire. 1513 Doug. ix xiii 46.
Hys mynd scaldand in greif and egir will Ib. xiii vi 104.
In our ardent desyre Of the bargan he scaldit hait as fyre

6. To behave as if boiling, or about to boil; to froth; to bubble. 1513 Doug. vi v 4.
[The] flude of Acheron … Drumly of mud and skaldand as it war wod Popland and bulrand furth on athir hand 1650 Brechin Presb. 40.
Catharin … cam in to her hous when her milk was on the fyr skadding

7. To set fire to property, etc.; to burn. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 314.
They are burning and scalding, slaying and murdering, and using all kind of oppression