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: 1399-1400, 1499-1513, 1569-1586
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Tait, Tayt, Tate, adj. [ME teyte (c1300), tayt (14th c.), ON teitr. Cf. Tit(e adj.] Active, energetic, lively, nimble; untamed. Also, tait and trig.Recorded as a surname from 1329 (see Black Surnames, s.v. Tait).(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 331.
Fra fute to fute he [sc. the cat] kest hir [sc. the mouse] to and fra, Quhylis vp, quhylis doun, als tait [Ch., H. cant] as ony kyd a1500 Henr. Fab. 1410.
Swa come ane trip off myis out off thair nest Richt tait and trig 1513 Doug. viii x 84.
Abowt hir pappys … The twa twynnys, smal men childer ȝyng, Sportand ful tayt [Sm., Ruddim. tyte] gan to wrabill and hyng 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 183 (Sm.).
Litill lammis Full tait and trig socht bletand to thar dammis a1570-86 Inglis in Maitland Folio MS 212/49.
Over all the gait so mony theiffis so tait Within this land wes never hard nor sene(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints iv 328.
For scho had bulis wilde and tate [L. indomitos et silvestres] That scho nocht trewit mycht ȝakkit be In carte
