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.
Stair-fute, Stair(e)fute, n. Also: -foot, -futt, stare fit, -foot. [e.m.E. steyer foote (Malory), stayre foote (1513), staire foote (1573-5); Stair n.] The bottom of a flight of steps or stairs, chiefly those outside a building, freq. used to indicate location.(a) 1557 Crim. Trials I i 396.
The stowthe-reif … at the said Robertis chalmer stair-fute, besyde the buttir-trone, off ane litill coffir [etc.] 1567 Crim. Trials I i 497.
John Hepburn [etc.] … met thame … at the said Laird of Ormiston's stairefute of his chalmer above the Bow 1590 Reg. Privy C. IV 486.
Lyke as … Mr. George Bisset being gangand with Mr. Robert Chalmer … at the tolbuith stairfute and the said complenar passand by the croce [etc.] 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 246.
You came to the stair foot of the hous quher they wer and cryed up to your husband [etc.] 1610 Brechin Test. II 28b.
This was done at the said Agnes hir stair futt 1612 S. Leith Rec. 9.
Elspet Steward … is ordained to gange to Elspet Lyndsayes stair fute where she offendit hir, and sall … ask hir forgivnes 1612 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 340.
In maister James Raith his chalmer at the stair fute ane wondoke new glaset 1667 Anal. Scot. I 214.
Our servants restrained from going out of the castle, our chamber doors locked all night, and centrie at the stair foot 1700 Cramond Kirk S. IV 25 Aug.
She came out of her house, & satt doun at the stair foot hard by John Harrower's doore(b) 1622 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 135.
He helpit to carie the thrie daills fra Marjorie Wilson's stare fit at the croce 1676 Stirling Common Good 106a.
For reding the syver at the tolbuith stare foot
