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.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1456-1699
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Want, n.1 Also: wante, waunt, vant(e. [ME and e.m.E. wannt (Orm), want (Cursor M.), wante (1340-70), ON vant.]
1. Lack or shortage of a commodity, etc.; lack or absence of a service or something necessary or required. b. Failure or deficiency in supply in respect of something. Also pl.1375 Barb. v422 (see Want v. 1). 1456 Hay II 84/16.
For men may wele consider that the warldis gudis haldis the saule lang in the body, and geris the lyf lest langer in thame that has habundaunce of gudis, na in thame that has waunt 1482 Reg. Morton II 247.
I bynde & oblis me … in the somme of fyfe markis … for his skaithis costis & dampnys in to wante & falȝheing of my service 1550–1 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 154.
It sall be lesum … to haif ane buird … to lay his geir on daylie, becaus of the want of his buith window 1556 Inverness Rec. I 2.
James Paterson … to preif quhat skayth he had sustenit in want of his boyt quhilkis Necoll Kar intromettit with c1577 Waus Corr. 169.
Gif I cum in cumir throw vant of the samin [sc. £400] [etc.] 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 43b.
Rebetit to the said Robert Tode for wate skinis and want of skinis v frankis xv sows 1619 Criminal Trials III 479.
Throw want of intertenement, he famischet and deit of hunger 1622-6 Bisset I 136/22.
They man … delyver the samin [evidents] … or ellis the enteres that may be … estimate throw the want of the saidis evidentis 1635 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 29 Oct.
xx li. money for the vante of the gwding he suld have made vpoun the said portioun of land 1639 Johnston Diary Ia 47.
The want of all the necessares of warre, men, horses, … munition, commanders, order and discipline 1652 Acts VI ii 802/1.
The great burdens … the people of Scotland are vnder by … the want of a mint 1693 Lett. (Annandale Papers, R. C. Reid transcript) 31 Aug.
I resolve to come and sie you … notwithstanding of my inabilitie and want of health 1627 Elgin Rec. II 200.
John Man … payit 24 s. for the vant of the commandis befor his mariadgeb. 1598 Mill Mediæval Plays 205.
Ane ell ane quarter rid freis to supplie the want of the saidis gownis, becaus Andro Creiche had na mairpl. 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 339.
That ane wynd myln be biggit … quhilk wald supplie … the wantis and defection of the water myllis
c. The lack or absence of a person (of a particular sort).a1508 Want of Wyse Men 8 (Ch. & M.).
Want of wyse men makis fulis to sit on binkis 1548–56 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXIII 44.
The want and laik of cunning men, raritie and skarsines of thame to teche and reid within oure realme 1627 Rep. Parishes 198.
Johne Smith his mark insteid of his subscriptione for want of ane nottar 1678 Craven Ch. in Orkney 78.
[The] want of a schoomaster was generally regrated 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 27.
Aberlemno … which for want of aires returned to the family againe
2. Something (apparently) required or needed, a desire. b. pl.Requirements, needs or ? merely further examples of 1 above.a1538 Abell 124b.
The king send wit to him anens ane herand of his desire quhilk ekit his want & wantonesb. c1680 W. Row Blair 131.
All misses were mended, and all wants supplied by the covenant 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 31 Dec.
Wrights, masons and glasiers to view and see what are the severall wants, defects and uther necessaries for repaireing of church, church-yeard-dykes and manse
3. The state of lacking the necessities of life, hardship, poverty.c1600 Poem (verso T. Pont) 5.
For weil, for welth, for want, for wo
