A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1574-1699
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
Stelth, Stealth, Stalth, n. [ME and e.m.E. stalðe (c1250), stalthe (1357), stelthe (Gower), stealthe (a1550), OE *stǽlþ; Stele v.] (A) robbery. 1574 Cal. Sc. P. V 62.
[Our Borders … are greatly troubled by] stelth 1623 Thanes of Cawdor 263.
To warrand … fra all los stalth traiking and all uther chancis efter the marking of the said ky 1610 Criminal Trials III 102.
The committing of certane robereis and maisterfull stealthes vpoune the sie 1662 Dumfries Council Min. 1 Apr.
The counsall considering that thair are many pitty stealths & great abuses & scandalls comittit 1688 Musselburgh 33.
They make a full discoverie of ther nighboures accession to the lyke stealths of malt and corne 1699 Misc. 3 Spald. C. ii 97.
Captain James Menȝies … is … owner … of the landis whereon the forenamed persones depredatoris … receided the time of the committing of the said stelth … and swa be the lawes … are liable for … the skaithes … sustained through the stelth
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Stelth n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/stelth>
