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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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Stith, Styth(e, adj., (adv., n.) Also: stit. [ME and e.m.E. stið (c1175), stith (Cursor M.), OE stíð.]Freq. in alliterative phrases.

A. adj. 1. Of a material thing: That does not bend nor give way easily; stout, strong. Also in fig. context.1375 Barb. x 364.
A cruk thai maid … Of irn, that wes styth and square a1400 Legends of the Saints xii 278.
[He] … hyme-self can hynge With a cord bath styth & strange a1400 Legends of the Saints xxix 695.
Thare-for arayt thai thaim wele In armis stith, mad of stele ?1438 Alex. i 121.
Vaponis stith of steill ?1438 Alex. i 820.
Thair brandis and stith speiris ?1438 Alex. ii 2558.
Thir thre ar the vertewis, I wis, That maist of strenth and vertew is For to sustene the branches wele Of lufe, and keip thame stith as stele 1513 Doug. x vi 17.
Bend vp ȝour ayris styth, and rays ȝour schippys 1513 Doug. xi xi 45.
A bustuus speir, … baith styth and stuyr

b. Of a castle, prison, etc.: Stoutly-built, so as to deter attack or escape; impregnable; formidable. Also in fig. context. Also transf., of the site of a castle.1375 Barb. iv 101.
For thai sa stith saw the casteill, And wist that it wes varnist weill 1375 Barb. iv 347.
In Arane, In-till a stith castell of stane 1375 Barb. v 458.
[He] biggit vp the castell swith, And made it rycht stalward & stith a1400 Legends of the Saints xl 946.
A wikit man, … tane & put in pressone stith of stane ?1438 Alex. ii 4511.
He maid, … of his helm ane styth doungeoun c1420 Wynt. vii 3200.
Edynburchys styth castelletransf. c1420 Wynt. viii 5617.
The Wardane has this castelle tane, … And set in till sa stythe [C. styithe, W. strait] a place, That rycht wycht off it-selff it was

2. Of a person, in battle: Stith to stand, firm of purpose in standing one's ground; steadfast, unyielding.1375 Barb. viii 384.
A lord … so veill bowrdand, And in battale so stith to stand 1513 Doug. xi xiii 9.
Now, not irkyt in batale stith to stand, Ane stalwart ax scho hyntis in hir hand

3. Intense in degree or quantity; severe; violent: a. Of fighting. b. Of a storm. c. Of a stream. d. Of an emotional state or condition.a. 1375 Barb. ix 343.
Thar wes oft bikkyrring stith & stoutb. c1400 Troy-bk. i 413.
Wyndis … Lowd and horrible … Quhar-throw watteris and wedderis soft Wald all perwert and wedderis styth Baith ger fall rayn and hailec. 1375 Barb. x 84.
Ane water … That … was sa styth & depe & wid, That [etc.] 1513 Doug. v iv 64.
And als forgane the styth stremys of Maleed. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 812.
Ane stit strangnes betwixt him and his queene

4. Of a man or horse: Mighty, powerful.1375 Barb. xi 558.
Thai … strak with spuris the stedis stith, That bare thame evyn hard and swith 1375 Barb. xii 92.
To mete so stith a knycht and sture In sic poynt ?1438 Alex. i 252.
Hors … Stalwart, stith and weill sterand ?1438 Alex. i 1588.
Thocht thay of Grece war styth and stout ?1438 Alex. ii 309.
He was baith stith, stark and strang, Weill maid with lymmes fare and lang ?1438 Alex. ii 1462.
Gif he be pure and hes bot small, He mak him lord stith in stall ?1438 Alex. ii 2969.
He was stith in stour, Wicht and hardy of great valour c1450-2 Howlat 697 (A).
Quha was stewart bot the stork, stallwart & styth a1500 Golagros and Gawane 718.
Schir Bedwar to Schir Bantellas yaldis vp his brand, In that stalwart stour thay styth men in stude a1586 Lindsay MS 46b.
This ordour [sc. of angels] [is] … stith and hardy in pouer of the hie godheid

B. adv. Powerfully, vigorously.?1438 Alex. i 825.
And mony steid stith steirand He saw into the front cumand ?1438 Alex. i 2650.
In steropis stith he him stent 1513 Doug. v viii 5.
Than athir gan contrar othir styth stand

C. absol. as noun. The (that) styth in stour, the man mighty in battle, the powerful warrior.?1438 Alex. ii 483.
Sen that we lossit our lord and cheif, Gaudifeir, that styth in stour ?1438 Alex. ii 3595.
Floridas, the styth in stour