A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Slit(t, v. Also: slait, slot. [ME and e.m.E. slitte (a1300), slytte (1530), slit (Shakesp.).] a. tr. To cut (masonry) in the sense of Slitting vbl. n. b. To cut, more generally, to incise, to cut into (wp, down); to make a cut or cuts in; to cut away, to remove by cutting.a. 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 166.
The saidis masonis beand with the wrichtis … slittand and correcand tabill and corballis of the samynb. (1) a1538 Abell 123b.
Thai wer slittit wp fra place of thare secret partis to the slot of thare breist 1550 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 13.
That … na schiep be slitted down in the shulders 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II 161.
That na maner of flescheouris … cut nor slit ony mwtun in the schulderis nor vther pairtis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4105.
Thay slyt thare bellyis(b) 1714 Stirling B. Rec. II 135.
That no flesh be spoiled nor slotted in the craig nor no other part(2) 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes 348.
[They] did slitt and cutt the secks away
c. intr. ? To split.1531 Bell. Boece I xiii.
Hanniball … Brak doun the wallis, and the montanis slait And to his army maid ane oppin gait
