A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wont, n. Also: wonnte, wontt, woint, vont, voint, wount, vountt, woont, wint, wynt, vynt, wonit, vonit. [ME and e.m.E. wont (Cursor M.), wonte (1556), woont (1594).] Habit, custom. Also proverb.1437 Cop. St. A. 156.
Oure annuale rent … to be pait … be ewynly porciounys, of tha forsaid landis wont and custume 1456 Hay I 238/33.
Na suld na man sell thame [sc. pilgrims] derror penyworthis na wont was to be in the contreeproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1485.
Wint a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1672.
Wint beguiled the ladie quhen sche lukit to let a fart, sche did worse
b. To have wont, to be accustomed to; also, of the conditions of a document, to prevail, to have currency.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 143/75.
Scho ordand eik that every bird and beist … suld … compeir And every flour of vertew, most and leist, … As thay had wont in May, fro ȝeir to ȝeir To hir thair makar to mak obediens 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1922.
The grewhound … Faynt and foirfocht, come fawnand to his feit As he had wont, his maister for to meit 1622-6 Bisset I 19/3.
Lang hes my pen hid and obscured bene In pretermitting poesie I meane Quhilk I had wount sumtyme to use befoir(2) 1558 Aberd. B. Rec. I 311.
The prowest [etc.] … consentit that his saids letters be obeyt and obtemperat at the nixt fest of Sanct Michaell, and haf wynt for thre yeirs thaireftir following
c. Wont and use, use and wont, customary procedure, see Use n.1 for further examples. In adverbial use with or without as, as is customary, as is usual.1468 Peebles B. Rec. I 157.
That he swld be sythit of all nychtburis sonys sic lyk as wont and ws is 1487 Innes Sketches 393.
As wes us and wount in the tyme of oure … progenitouris 1517 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 88.
Wynt 1520 Maxwell Mem. I 245.
Wyth sic lik profettis … as my said castall had ws and vont of befor to the kepin of it 1532 Wigtown B. Ct. 262a.
Woint c1535 Reg. Soltre 213.
The sacrister sall ryng … the bells of the place after matynis hye-mes … and complene ald vse and wynt c1535 Reg. Soltre 213.
Vynt 1556 Carte Northberwic 73.
That the said … officiaris … met the inhabitouris stopis … conforme to auld vse and wont 1567 Lanark B. Rec. 37.
Anentis the bying off tallane and hidis … that all be kepit ald use and wint 1580 Conv. Burghs I 102.
Wontt 1582 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 30.
That [he] keip the mure and merchis according to us and vountt 1584 St. A. Baxter Bks. 36.
To conuene thairto as vse & vonit hes bene past meand of man 1593 Acts (1597) ii 133b.
Woont 1601 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 27 April.
Wonit 1652 Galloway P. 11 March.
Two wodderis and twa stanes of butter at the termes of payment vse & wonnte 1676 Galloway P. 27 Jan.
Voint
