Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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.

Stot, Stotte, n.² [f. as Stot v.]

1. A blow with a weapon, such as to cause a rebound. 1513 Doug. ix xi 10.
In bos helmys and scheldis the weirly schote Maid rap for rap, reboundand with ilk stot

2. fig. or in fig. context. Of a ball: A bounce or rebound. 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 145.
Of him that out of scarcity tauntes his neihbour with the same scorne with which he scorned him, the Frenchman sayes, il ne vaut rien pour prendre la bal a la seconde enleuement, at the 2d stot

b. Applied to actions, etc: A misjudged bounce, a stumble or moment of faltering. 1626 Garden Worthies 23.
Thy faith in both his fortouns firme he [sc. Robert the Bruce] fand … but a stot or any stumbling stand 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 345.
A wrong step, or a wrong stot, in going out of this life, in one property is like the sin against the Holy Ghost

c. To take (another, oneself) at the (a) (right) stot, to catch on the rebound, to intercept or deal with (a person, oneself) without allowing time for avoiding action or second thoughts. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxiv 23.
Lurking Love, vha lang had lyne in wait, Persaving tym, he took me at a stot 1637 Monro Exped. ii 118.
They are possessed instantly with a panicke feare, especially being taken at the stot or rebound, before they have time to disgest their feare 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 489.
Ye do well to take yourself at the right stot when ye wrong Christ by doubting and misbelief

d. To be kept at the stotte, to maintain (a situation or state of affairs) in force. 1596 6th Rep. Hist. MSS VI App. 668/2.
[He has lately been with the Queen and finds her in better humour] I praise God the ball is yet aloft and I hope shalbe kept at the stotte

e. In various phrases with keep: ? To keep in the same step, time, rhythm (as (of) something); ? to keep up with (another). c1620 Boyd Zion's Fl. 49.
Wee have great neede the stots of time to keepe 16… Sempill P. 43/66.
So well's he keeped his decorum, And all the stots of Whip-meg-morum 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1822) 104/2.
I find it a difficult matter to keep all stots with Christ; when he laugheth I scarce believe it, I would so fain have it true