A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1438, 1499-1639
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Swet(e) hart, n. Also: sweit-, sueit-, suitt- and -heart. [ME and e.m.E. swete heorte (c1290), swete hert (c1325), sweet heart (Shakespeare); Swet(e adj. 7 and Hart n.1 3.] A term of endearment, love, darling, used in direct address.Also in a place-name.1596 Dalr. I 13/14.
Passe now by the new monasterie, or of sweit hartes sa named because it had sa lang continued in a happie state of sa haly religious men ?1438 Alex. ii 2253.
A! sueit hart, weill taucht and plesand, Confort thy lemman with ane grant! ?1438 Alex. ii 2538.
He said, ‘Swete hart, gay and ioly [etc.]’ a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 229.
Than said scho thus my swet hart deire All is ȝouris that I haf heire c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1240.
Ȝour enemeis I see; Thairfoir, sweit hart, I reid ȝow fle a1568 Scott ix 41.
Sueit hairt, send me the hairt That is in to ȝour breist inwart 15.. Edinb. Univ. MS La.iv.6.
Quha sould me saiff or ȝit supplee bot ȝe, sueit hart & souerane
b. Applied to oneself as the object of love or affection.1639 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 111.
Affections to … my best berne, your suitt heart
