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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1698
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
Wa(i)ting, vbl. n. Also: waitt-, waite-, wayt-, vat-, weit-, weat-, wyiting, watene. [ME and e.m.E. waitinge (c1200), waytinge (1340).]
1. The action of attending ((up)on a matter, person, etc.), seeing to things, a person's needs, etc. Also attrib.Also in comb. with on. (Wait v.1 1, 7, 8, 9, 11.)(1) 1544–5 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 361.
To Gawane Hart messinger … for his expens in his laubouris tane upoun the wating of my lord governoris effaris 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II 280.
For ane seruandis expensis and fee … for the keping of the plaice of Cupar, vating apon the medowis and vynning of the hay [etc.] 1617 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries IV 104.
To John Taliphere and John Mylne masons … To John Mylne this oulk for waiting £6 13 s. 4 d. 1609 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 56.
In calling and waitting upoun thame [sc. cattle] to thair meats and pasture 1683 Rothesay B. Rec. 394.
All fialls due to me for waiteing upon the cloack 1686 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 16 Oct.
For waiting on the myle 1698 Annandale Corr. 323.
My wife hes been … ill … Thiss hes restrained me from waitting off your lordship Iff itt please God … I shall see you ass soon as I can(b) 1604 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III ii 600.
The said vmquhile David declarit that he was superexpendit in chargis of chyrurgeanes … whatsumeuir guidis … that he had was wairit vpone his chargis in furneising him sic necessaris as he neidit, and wyiting upone him in lang lying the space of twa ȝeirisattrib. 1659 A. Hay Diary 210.
To tak Ellen Scott … to be her waiting maid, … and referred the fye to me(2) a1568 Scott xxvi 61.
Thay [sc. women] wald haif wating on alway 1586 Perth B. Ct. 1 Nov.
Throw keping and vating on of the said barne scho is cum depauperit(b) 1592–3 Edinb. B. Rec. V 345.
Payit to Adame Flint for waitting on for caling of the buittis about Mr. George Ker 1616 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 20.
For my awin chairgis and waitting on upoun the thrie schippis 1636 Edgar Old Church Life II 103.
[The kirk session of Galston ordained] that the reader shall have … for keiping of ane school, and for gud wayting on 1681 Dunkeld Presb. II 203.
Mr. James Crokat's absence who … was necessarly detained by wayting on upon a dying friend(c) 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS 10.
To Jon Allat for weiting on at the pairlament at the tounes order
2. Trickery, wiles. Also pl.(Wait v.1 3, 5.)a1500 Henr. Fab. 618 (Ch.).
This foxe … Quhilk durst na mair with waiting [H. wayting, Bann. miching] intermell 1587 Carmichael Etym. 34.
Insidiae, craftie waitingis
3. The action or fact of waiting. (Wait v.1 2.) Also attrib.1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 60b.
For our compeneye ther es watene wpone the wend 2 dayesattrib. 1683 Reid Sc. Gard'ner 3.
There are ten steps up to the first story (which is hall or dining-room, withdrawing-room, bed-chamber and waiting-room)
4. The action of delaying (a matter). (Wait v.1 4.)1669 Inverness Rec. II 237.
It being put to the voyce for present doing or weating, the samen is caryed for present doing
