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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.

Tempest(e, -aste, n. [ME and e.m.E. tempeste (c1250), tempest, -ast (both Cursor M.), OF tempest(e, L. tempestās.]

1. A violent storm; violently stormy weather. Also attrib.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii 226.
To Sante Andro thane mad requeste, The puple, for that tempaste, And it wes cessit a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 336.
A gret tempest, That draf tham to Adryak c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1005 (C).
Of the see the gret tempest That was ameved thrught wyndes blest, Enforced was so fellonly 1494 Loutfut MS 31b.
& the maryneris persaiffis be thaim quhen the tempest suld cum 1513 Doug. v i 20.
And down a tempest sent als dyrk as nycht 1513 Doug. xiii ii 73.
Sa feill wynterys blastis and tempestis a1578 Pitsc. I 156/9.
Thair come sic hestie tempestis vpone the sie that hir schippis was scatterit 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 218.
There did arise such a tempest in the sea 1623 Laing MSS 159.
Mr. Mungo and your cofferes haid not loossed from Dysert the tent of this monethe by reasone of tempestes(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 1276.
As tempest that garris woddis fall, He schalit and thirllit the mekill stour ?1438 Alex. ii 4616.
Ane hurching … That men micht lykin … To tempest that fra the cluddis fell 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 243.
The lift appering lowyn, but ony dyn or tempest 1533 Boece 484b.
The king passing the ferre of Forth be tempest was drevin apoun the insch namyt Emonia Arundel MS 284/161.
Defend ws fra … fireslaucht, fra thounder, fra tempest 1573 Reg. Privy C. MS XLII 3b.
Be the occasioun of tempest … the … aislar work is … schaikin lows 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 213.
He … raisit tempest and stormie wedderfig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 177/43.
Thow sall in deathis port arryve, Quhair nocht for tempest may indure Bot ferslye all to spumis dryve(3) attrib. 1567 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun (SRS) 156.
The tynsale of the pure menis cornis … be ressone of the evill and tempest weddir

b. Const. of weit, wynd, etc. 1535 Stewart 44620 heading.
Ane greit spait and tempest of weit 1535 Stewart 53357.
Ane greit tempest thair hapnit in the se, Of wynd and wall 1603 Moysie 146.
There blew sic a vehement tempest of wind 1596 Dalr. I 55/27.
A porte … quhair na storme or tempest of wethir can cum 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS 17 Oct.
Thair araise ane greatter tempest of wind and rayne … quhilk so affrayit the pepill that [etc.] 1636 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VI 305.
Ane fearfull tempest of thunder [etc.]

c. Const. of fyre. 1456 Hay I 63/15.
That tempest of fyre fra the hevin strake away the letres that was writtin in his name

2. transf. a. A commotion, tumult. a1500 Colk. Sow i 199.
A new noyment and nois With a rumour vprois That of that cais to degest It mycht be callit a tempest

b. A misfortune, calamity; trouble. c1475 Wall. vii 268.
Feill tempest is befall. Our men ar slayne [etc.] c1475 Wall. vii 394.
My wnclis dede … With mony ma … For sleuth nor sleip sall nayne remayne in me, Off this tempest till I a wengeance se