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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.

S(c)hirt, n. Also: schirte, shurt, shuirtt, s(c)hert, shret, sheert. [ME and e.m.E. shurte (c1200), sserte (1340), schirte (Chaucer), short (a1440), OE scyrte, MDu. schorte, MLG schört(e.] A garment covering the trunk, arms and (upper) legs, usu. worn next to the skin; a shirt, also a night-shirt.Worn by both men and women.With quot. 1652 cf. such later 19th c. Eng. expressions as to bet one's shirt, to put one's shirt on (a horse), etc. a1578 Pitsc. (1814) xxiii.
They [supra Reidschankis, or wyld Scottis] be cloathed with ane mantle, with ane schirt fachioned after the Irisch maner, going bair legged to the knie 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 218.
Anie part or peece of foule linnen cloth that had appertained to the kinges majestie, as shirt, handkercher, napkin or any other thing 1607 Misc. Maitl. C. I 176.
For wesching of my lordis grace lyning and lanis and schirtis, vi lib. 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 92.
Some of them [sc. soldiers] wantis shirttis, quhilk could not be had heir vpon suddentie 1641 Acts V 348/1.
That no persone … shall have pearling or ribbening vpoun ther ruffes bandis shirtes napkines and sockes except, [etc.] 1652 Rothiemay Kirk S. in J. Gordon Hist. I App. lviii.
Mr. James [Richardsone] had been … squabbling with the souldiours by playing at dyce to the losse of all his money nay his very shirt 1660 S. Ronaldshay 30.
Kathareen … did knite the same [thread] about his middle, beneath his schirte 1661 Crim. Trials III 601.
Ane morning, when shoe was cheinging her schirt [etc.] 1674 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 15 Dec.
Servants fies £18 with twae new shirts 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 63.
Lining to be Adam shirts(b) 1563 Old Dundee II 245.
Ane dozen shuirtts 1583 Inv. in Sc. Ant. I 77.
Shurttes 1697 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 825.
A neu shurt(c) 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI 513.
Shrettes 1600–1 Irvine Mun. II 239.
To by a schert to a pure man — 1619 Falkirk Par. Rec. I 13.
In his quhyt linninge shertis(d) 1661 Haigs of Bemersyde 470.
6 els of lining for to be sheerts

b. With qualifying word indicating the type, or function, of the shirt.Half schirt, ? a shorter shirt than was usual, ? a detached shirt front, a dicky. c1633 Buccleuch Mun. II 280.
Thrie new nycht schirtis … four half schirtis

c. In (one's) bare shirt, nacked in (one's) shirt, wearing nothing but a (night) shirt. 1667 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. i 8.
They fand Jonet Allan in hir bare shirt ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 269.
The countrey people [were] … flying out of ther bedds nacked in their shirts

d. comb. In shirt-hand, ? an ornamental cuff covering (part of) the hand. 1667 Edinb. Test. LXXIII 8b.
Ane pair of silver glespes for shirt hands 1694 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 188.
For lace to shirt hands