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.
Stithly, -lie, Stythly, adv. [ME stit(h)li (Cursor M.), stithelic (c1325), stithly (c1400); Stith adj.]
1. Purposefully, steadfastly; courageously, valiantly.1375 Barb. iii 120.
Quhen the King felt thar his hand, In sterapys stythly gan he stand 1375 Barb. x 326.
Quhen thai of his varnysoun Saw the sege set thair stithly, Thai mystrowit hym of tratory 1375 Barb. xi 165.
Thai stalwartly suld stand In the bataile and stythly fycht ?1438 Alex. i 1176.
He … strenȝeit in his sterapis stythly ?1438 Alex. i 1295.
He straucht his steid, that stithly ran ?1438 Alex. i 2321.
His staluart speir he stithly straucht, As man that was of mekill maucht ?1438 Alex. ii 1207.
His hors hede he turnit thare, And drew his suerd, that scharply schare; And his steid bare him stythly c1420 Wynt. viii 5013.
The castelle off Culpyre … That Schyre William Bullok stythly Held a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 575.
Thoght thai war astonait, in that stour stithly thai stude 1513 Doug. v vii 109.
Syne stythly [Sm. stithlie, Ruddim. stiflie] in the sand vpstandis he, Of hydduuis statur and of quantite
2. Of confining, enclosing, restricting: Firmly, securely.1375 Barb. iv 14.
For off Glaskow byschop Robert, And [Marcus] off Mun thai stythly sperys Bath in fetrys and in presoune
3. Of building, constructing: Strongly, stoutly.a1400 Leg. S. xxxv 55.
Til a chawmir stithly made, … Quare-in al hyre tresoure wes
4. Of swearing an oath: With binding force, solemnly.a1400 Leg. S. xl 839.
For-thi stithly he swar thane … That [etc.]
5. Stiffly, rigidly.1513 Doug. vii Prol. 132.
I … Persauyt the mornyng bla wan and har … The sulȝe stythly hasart rouch and hair
