A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Umbe(s)chew, Umschew, v. Also: ombyschew, umchow, wm(s)chew, wmcheu, wnchew. P.p. also umscheyn. [Eschew v.] tr. and intr.
1. tr. To avoid, shun.(a) 1456 Hay II 120/28.
Off sik thing men suld have counsale of medicineris as maladyes that men may nocht gudely umbechew 1460 Hay Alex. 8461.
Quha will vmbeschew ill cumpaney … may liff ay honerablie 1460 Hay Alex. 14300.
As of the goddis he wald vmbechew the pane c1460 Thewis Wysmen 475.
Thir ar the thewis … Quhilkis fullis oysis comonly; Quhay lovis honor suld thaim vmbeschew a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1336.
Mak ȝow bown … For till vmbeschew the Jowis gret dangeir 1513 Doug. iii vi 81.
Ombyschew [Sm. vmbeschew] this cost of Italy 1514 Aberd. B. Rec. I 90.
It is thoucht expedient … to vmbeschew the said seknes, that thar be bot thre portis haldin oppin for cuming of strangearis(b) 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I 448.
To ewaid and vmchow trubill of thair innymeis 1531–2 Perth Guildry 375 (19 Jan.).
To vmschew the lenyng of it in tymes cuming it is statut and ordanit [etc.] a1538 Abell 1a.
The memorance of deid baith of gude and ewill inwertlie mot brod ws to wmchew the offence of God a1538 Abell 27b.
He institut that na wsuall meit suld be wmcheuit be Christin men a1538 Abell 57 (bis) a.
The mair at a man may lychtlie wnchew sin the hewear is his sin and he wnchew it nocht a1538 Abell 63b.
Ane othir is fuyll hardy swering to wmchew a1538 Abell 8*b.
Office of dignite vmschew & yow ma a1538 Abell 124b.
Wmschew a1538 Abell 11*a.
Vmscheyn 1535 Stewart 5266.
So ȝe trow for to vmschew thair feid 1566–7 Inverness Rec. I 146.
And war I nocht louttit downe and wmchewit the samyn he had slane me
2. intr. To escape, get away.(a) 1535 Stewart 5736.
Tha vmbeschewit vntill ane better tyme To saue thame self and to revenge that cryme(b) 1535 Stewart 57.
Euerie man … naturallie abhorris ay with blame As till vmschew fra sclander, lak and schame 1535 Stewart 44391.
Herald thair lord, throw mony subtill wyllis, With waill few men vmschewit to the Ylis 1535 Stewart 58005.
All this he said, as ȝe ma richt weill trow, For his repreif that he mycht than wmschew
