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)hort quhil(e. Also: scort- and -quhill, -while, -fyll. [S(c)hort adj. and Quhile n.] For a short time.Schort quhile syne (abefoir), not long ago; recently.(1) 1375 Barb. vii 270.
Bot he has schort quhile [C. quhil] at the mete Syttyn quhen he hard gret stamping Abowt the hows 1456 Hay I 197/19.
And sa, to kepe this mortale lyf of his body that sa schort quhile lestis [etc.] a1500 Seven S. 1286.
Or ellis schort quhile sall ȝe haf ȝour lyf a1538 Abell 35b.
This miserabill man rang scort quhile Ib. 75b.
Schort quhill 16.. Ellon Par. 65.
I have been short fyll at the lair(2) 1535 Stewart 23963.
Nobill Constantyne, Quhome of befoir I schew schort quhile syne Ib. 33615.
The marbell stone The quhilk his father of befoir schort quhile, On to that place had brocht c1650 Spalding I 156.
Whairin the marques had lodgit schort-while abefoir
