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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1508, 1596-1608, 1667-1685
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Sot, n. Also: sott, sote. [ME and e.m.E. sotte (a1250), sot (Cursor M.), OF sot (c1155 in Larousse). Cf. med. L. sottus (c800).] A foolish or contemptible person, fool, idiot. b. specif. In collocation with drunken: One who behaves foolishly on account of excessive drinking.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiv 318.
Sume that had his lyf sene, Demyt that he a sot had bene c1420 Wynt. ii 726.
Thai … war sottys wyle … Na governyde thame be na wertu 1456 Hay I 266/28.
Gif thai geve leve of bataill till fulis and sottis a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i 421.
Thay chace with a fresch cheir Fyll on the foirsaid sottis And ourthrew all the ydiottis a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 264 (Asl.).
For sleuthfull sottis can neuer be wertuous a1500 Bk. Chess 575.
Or sic a sot suld in hir bed be slane Scho lever had bene deid a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 481.
Hye souverane lorde, lat nevir this synfull sot [B. sote] Do schame … unto your nacioun 1596 Dalr. I 268/30.
The king mowit verie oft with him, quhat was betuene a Scott & a sott (for a sott in French commounlie thay cal a fule) 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 137.
I was neuer sic a sott to think that 1667 Craven Ch. in Orkney 28.
Stennesse … sometymes [upbraided] him, and all the rest of the elders, calling them sotts 1673 Fugitive Poetry II xxxii 3/61.
Your grace is yet so great a sott, You only act what others plott 1681 Description of the Rebels in Fugitive Poetry I.
Bitterly they boast and crack, These silly simple sotsb. 1685 Hawick Ann. 88.
For abusing the present bailie, by … calling him drunken sott and logerhead
