A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Utas,) Wtes, Wtast, n. (pl.). [ME and e.m.E. utas (Trevisa), utaus (c1420), reduced form of utaves, f. as Octave n.] a. pl. Octaves, the period of eight days after a festival day. = Octave n. 1 c. b. ? pl. ? The weeks of, the whole period of (here, February). Cf. Octave n. 2. —a. a1400 Leg. S. xxii 793, 796.
Had he Specialis prewylege thre … the todyre that wtes … Of al vthyre martirys [ane] has he [sc. St. Laurence] As Martyne ymange confessoris Has wtes with al hourys [L. secundum est in octava: ipse namque solus cum … octavam inter martires sicut Martinus inter confessores] —b. c1475 Wall. vi 1.
Than passit was wtast of Feuirȝher [1570 the octauis of Februar] And part off Marche
