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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.

Thrist, Threst, Thirst, n.¹ Also: thriste, thryst, thrisste, threste, thrust, thyrst. [ME and e.m.E. þirst (c1200), þrisst (Orm), þrest (c1300), þrust (c1375), thryste (Prompt. Parv.), OE þurst n., þyrstan v.]For many further examples, see Slak(e v. 5, Slok(e v. 4 and Slok(k)in v. 7.

1. The state or feeling of being thirsty; thirst, thirstiness. Also in fig. context. Also const. of (something). Also proverb.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 790.
Ser warkmen … That had gret thryst a1400 Leg. S. xliii 358.
For we thole nov cald & het, Quhile thriste, quhyle hungire gret c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 69 (see Slok(k)in v. 7).
Thrist 1456 Hay II 39/18.
Thrist a1500 Henr. Orph. 529.
He … Was dampnyt in the flud of Acheron To suffer hunger thrist nakit and cald a1500 Henr. Fab. 2619.
Ane cruell volff … To slaik his thrist, drank of the watter cleir a1508 Kynd Kittok 5 (Ch. & M.).
Thay threpit that scho deit of thrist et maid a gud end a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 65/28.
Sic drouthe and thrist was thame betwene 1551 Hamilton Cat. 156.
Our salviour in tyme of his thryst, was servit with gal and vynakir 1587-99 Hume 63/376.
The woll of life … They sall anis taist, and neuer mair haue thrist a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xi 16.
Then of the well of love I drank, to quench my burning thrist a1624 Edinb. Univ. MS La.ii.319.
Whill I with cairis and thrisste opprest 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 546.
Immediatlie thairafter [sc. after drinking] thair thrist was easit and the heavie wycht that was upon them was easit during the tyme off thair thrist and drouth(b) a1400 Leg. S. ix 63.
Na quhat is hungyre, na ȝet threste, Na gret trawale neuire he wyste a1400 Leg. S. xvi 310.
Bot reke of powre thu na liste, That peryse in hungyre & in threste? c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. xi 27.
Threst 1590 Waus Corr. 447.
We die for threst and worme vobbis groingis in our thrott a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 69.
Heir, hunger, threst, and cauld; Thair, yowithe for ewir floresin(2) 1513 Doug. ix ii 70.
Hys [sc. the wolf's] wysnyt throt, havand of blude sic thristproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 331.
Cukolds hes ever thrist in thair mouth a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 464.
Duble drinks are gude for thirst a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1112.
Manie men speiks of my meikle drink, bot few of my sair thirst

b. An instance of thirst. 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 94.
Margret continuale[ley] fast bedseik … with sic ane extraordinar thrist, that na drink, albeit newir so mekill, culd satisfie hir

2. Drought, the state or condition of being waterless. 1513 Doug. iv i 88.
Ȝondir the desert region … Ay ful of thyrst, in barrand Libya

3. fig. Overwhelming desire or longing for (etc.), an instance of this. Variously const.(a) a1500 Henr. Orph. 558.
Bot he suld drink ineuch … Of couatise to slake the birnand thrist a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1220 (Asl.).
Ȝour gredy thrist tressour to multiplye Sall than be torned to pereles penurite 1490 Irland Mir. I 46/35.
Be the wertu of this peticioune the persoune cummys to the beatitud that is callit sitis justicie, that is, ardent desire of justice … and … of that hungere and thrist we sal be fillit in the realme of paradice 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1010.
Thare is one sorte watand lyke houngre fleis For spirituall cure thocht thay be no thing abyll Quhose gredie thristis bene insaciabyll 15.. Clar. i 38.
In thrist of knichtheid birnand lyke a fyre 1556 Knox IV 238.
Yf I suld expres the thrist and langoure whilk I haif had for your presence 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 32.
In quhilk act ȝe may se thryst of ȝour blude blindit thame agains all thair natioun c1590 Fowler I 219/4.
So oft my thoughts, bathtd in there beautyes sees, Breids thrist of theames for to proclayme your praise c1590 Fowler II 21/35.
Sa vehement hes bene thair thrist efter the blood of Christs people, and ȝit not quenchit 1641 Baillie I 299.
We pray, preach and print against them what we are able most freelie; manie a sore thrist getts both men and women thronging in to our sermons a1649 Drummond II 239/4.
I neuer long'd for gold; But since I did thy dangling haire behold, Ah! then, then was it first That I prou'd Midas thrist(b) 1563 G. Hay Confutation Abbot Crosraguel 71b.
To these inwarde workes, we may joyne the earnist & vehement desyre and thrust we haue to the propagation of his kyngdome