A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1540, 1646-1695
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Scot-frie, -free, Sca(i)t-frie, adj. [ME and e.m.E. scotfre (13th c.), skot fre (1531), scotchfree (1567), ON skot. Cf. Scat(t n.] To escaip, win (away) scotfrie, to avoid, or be let off, punishment or chastisement. —1540 Criminal Trials I i 228.
Feiring thame seluis, gif ane factius puissant man, ignominiuslie vsid, sould escaip scot-frie 1646 Corrector of Answerer to Speech Justifying Thos. Challoner 5.
Shall He and His escape scotfree, that for sixteen yeares … brake the law? 1650 Brechin Presb. 27.
Shee said … if shee had them again nether he nor his maister should win away so scat [ed. scant] frie scant 1695 National Reg. Archives (Scotl.) Rep. (Ewart Lib., Dumfries) 37.
Everie hour their is ane express waited for from the Mr. of Stair and Breadalbin will win scait frie as his near freends informes
