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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.

Scant, Skant, n. Also: scante, (scanth), scaunt, skent; schant. [ME and e.m.E. scant (a1350); f. or f. as Scant adj.] Short supply, or insufficient numbers, (of persons, material or non-material things); scarcity, dearth; insufficiency.(1) a1500 Rauf C. 273.
The king buskit him sone with scant of squyary. Wachis and wardroparis all war away 1513 Doug. i viii 84.
Albeit the strenth [1533, Ruddim. scanth] of men ȝhe set not by 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 352.
Ȝe may persaue That skant of men we wald not haue 1586 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 659.
Seeing papistry abounds in the North be reason of the scant of qualified ministers therin(2) 1510 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 130.
In tyme of scant of watter [at the mill] 1513 Doug. i iv 39.
For skant of vittal the cornys … Thai grand and syne buke at the fyre 1533 Boece 94.
Ane huge pray quhilk for skant of schippis he mycht nocht carye Ib. 594.
Thai ete … horsis, doggis [etc.] … throw scante of viueris Ib. 612.
The skant of ledderis was in caus that thai clame nocht the barmkinis 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 274.
Ȝe ladyis that hes na skent of leddir c1550 Id. Meldrum 1563.
Of bran and geill thair wes na skant And ipocras he wald not want 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III 66.
The prowest, baillies … considdering the skant of prisoun houssis [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2797.
Quhairthrow than grew to him skant of riches 1564 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 92.
For schant of monney compellis men to sell a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 40/8.
Hwngir and darthe that now is lyk to be Throw deid of beistis and skant of corne this ȝ 1591–2 Edinb. B. Rec. V 59.
The … drowth and skant of watter 1596 Dalr. I 59/24.
For the raritie and fewtie or scant of sum of thame [sc. geese] in vthiris cuntries 1624–5 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 225.
Their is greate scant of monye on Spinola his syde(b) 1535 St. P. Henry VIII V 24.
For povurtie and scaunt of his leving(3) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1401.
Thow sall haue fouth of sentence and not skant a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1309.
For skant of tyme thai mycht nocht mak duelling 1513 Doug. (STS) IV 194/17.
Gret scant of tyme … Has maid mywark mair subtell and obscur c1590 Fowler I 149/8.
These wonds … Which skant of bontye mair and mair prepairs 1596 Dalr. II 68/18.
Of ony kynde of … cheir, of gemm or play, of ony kynd of musik, was nother want or skant 1626 Ancram & Loth. Corr. I 42.
But quhen he wes made canceller, his scant of clergie bewrayed him a1661 Rutherford Cry from the Dead (1775) 12.
Meikle scant of life in the world … before He should have died for want 1646 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 459.
A vote, declaring the king, for no scant of faults, incapable to govern

b. Without const.: Shortage; lack of the necessities of life. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6331.
Be battell, pest, … Sum perrellous plague or pouertie Hounger and skant [etc.] Ib. 8542.
In time of derth, penuritie and skant 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 39.
Mony peipill diet with greit skant c1590 Fowler I 81/101.
Triumphant kingis … Who now lyes spoyled of thair pompe and skant dois plague thair pryd a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 99.
Thay … broght into Edinburghe many ky and oxin … for supplie of thair scant and hungar Ib. 217.
The cornis war universallie corruptit, sa that scant and dearth followit the nixt yeir 1603 Philotus 22.
With me thairs be na scant, Thairfoir some grace vnto me grant 1617 Aberd. B. Rec. II 350.
Nather may thair appeir ony … tackynnis of penurie and scant amongis you a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1334.
Scant maks dearth c1650 Spalding I 305.
This strong strenth … quhilk wes nather for scant nor want givin ower