Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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Unthrift(e, n. Also: unthryft, onthrift. [ME and e.m.E. vnþrift, vnþryfte (both Manning); Thrift n. Cf. Wanthrift n.

1. A worthless or wretched person; a waster (also, of something).(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xl 661.
Thai it [sc. a deformed child] fede … & tretyt weile that vnthrifte, Til eld had it brocht fra schrifte 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 7b.
The crew of vnthrifts are thy comrades such cumpanions as hes made compaction with the divell to ride poste to hel 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 8b.
The serjants attends like pages of honor vpon such careles vnthrifts, whose eares are ever attending, ‘I arrest you Sir’ 1612 Lowe Chirurgerie in Duncan Glasg. Physic. & Surg. 27.
Vnthrifts and idle people doe commonly meddle themselves with our art, who ordinarily doe passe without either tryall or punishment(2) 1617 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 305.
He is a great onthrift of his witt and tongue … and … wold mak ane guid intelligence for the deuill

2. Wretchedness, misery. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxv 760.
[The emperor] Julyane … Sayand sic wordis of vnthryft, ‘Thu … of Galylee, I grant thu has oure-cummyne me'

3. a. Vain or wasted labour. b. Lack of thrift or economy, wastefulness. Also, an instance of this.a. 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 24.
Ȝour wark onthrift, [Ruddim. vnthrift] ȝour quyet is restlesb. (1) 1528 Lynd. Dreme 965.
Unthrift, sweirnes, falset, pouertie, and stryfe Pat polacey in dainger of hir lyfe(2) 1584 Melvill 189.
The mid rank thinks it an unthrift to bestow thair childring's ‘berns’ part of geare' in susteining tham at the studie of theologie