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.
Worset, -at, n. Also: worsett, -it, -att, -ate, -ait, -eit, worssett, worzet, vorset, -at, wirset, -at, -ett, -att, -ate, -ait, wirsset, -at, virset, -at, -it, -ait, wyrset, -at, -ate, vyrset, wourset, -at, -ett, woorsett, warset, -at, -ate, wersat(t, -ed, versett-, vursat, werst, warstett, worste(a)d, wostet, wasted, wisserit, wisset, (wors(e, worsel). [ME and e.m.E. wrstede (1293), worstede (1347), worset- (1350), wosted (1440), worsted (1442), wurstet (1459), worsett (1520-1), f. the name of a parish in Norfolk, OE Wurðestede now Worstead.]
1. Worsted, the woollen fabric. Also with qualifier indicating colour, type, origin, use, quality, etc. b. pl.Particular sorts of worsted; articles made from worsted.Some examples may belong in 2 below.(1) 1399 Misc. Spald. C. V 13.
Pro pannis laneis worsetis 1505–6 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 114.
Worsett 1517 Misc. Spald. C. II 78.
Four doubletis of worset, price of the pece xl ss. 1541–2 Treas. Acc. VIII 52.
For ane renȝe of worset to the lady Crageis brydill iij s. 1597 Bk. Rates 12b.
Inuarte Custumes … Worset callit reid grougrene the stik … xvj li. … Vorset callit braid growgrame … xxx li. 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 289.
Beltis … of worsett the groce … viii li. 1642 Edinb. Test. LX 164b.
Tuentie sex peice worsett and silk bed laice c1650 Spalding II 312.
On ilk elne of narrow clothe, sarges, and vther worset, or hair stuffis importit, at or above fourtie shillings the elne ii s. 1670 Peebles B. Rec. II 82.
The mercate for buying and selling of worset and yairne and all other merchant waires … to be keept … from the sune rysing to the doune setting thairof 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIV 761.
The dragouns took from her half a duzen [elns] of worset(b) 1483 Acta Aud. *119/2.
A fedder bed … curtynnis & rufe of worsat 1506 Treas. Acc. III 312.
v quartaris worsat to his doublat, xxx s. 1590–1 Crail B. Ct. MS 19 Jan.
xxx s. for ane vlne off worsat(c) 1497 Edinb. Hammermen 22b.
For iiij eln of worsait to mak the pendakillis of, the price of the eln xiiij s. 1507 Treas. Acc. IV 33.
For worsait to be hos to the prince iiij s.(d) 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 410.
For weving hois of worsit to him xij s. 1695 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 189.
For worsit for strips 1 lb.(e) 1375 Exch. R. II 508.
Per empcionem de xij ulnis cum dimidio de wirset, precii viij s. iiij d. 1546 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS XXI 62b.
Vyrset 1558 Treas. Acc. X 367.
Ane elne ij quarteris of wirsait 1561 Treas. Acc. XI 66.
vxxij elnis of pasmentis of wirsatt to the saidis cloikis 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 648/2.
Ane comptar claith of virsat vroicht on the stuill 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 408.
Ane stane wecht of wirsat to the saidis palȝeonis, the pund xvj s. 1575 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 335.
That thair [sc. ministers'] haill habite be of … searges wirssett chamlet growgrame lyles [pr. lytes] wirssett or sicklyke(f) 1645 Edinb. Test. LXI 226.
Thrie pund wecht … of woorsett at xl s. the pund(g) 1595–6 Sc. Hist. Rev. X 302.
The tymber of ane litle canobie bed all of warstett(2) 1436 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 142.
Tria vestimenta … vnum de blauio worsat 1444 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 63.
Duo frontalia vnum de arras et aliud de vorseto nigro 1483 Acta Aud. 112*/1.
A couering of Inglis worsat 1511 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 258.
[2 ells] lie dowbile wirsset, 48 s. 1526 Treas. Acc. V 312.
Wirsait 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. XVI (Jam. s.v. Bout n.).
xviij bowtis of wyrsat chakkyrit 1538 Treas. Acc. VI 393.
Ane bolt of grene rubben worset to the said bed 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 121.
Wirsett 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 122.
Wirsatt 1546 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS XXI 52b (see Chaiplaré n.).
Wyrsate 1546–7 Treas. Acc. IX 51.
Worsate 1549 Stirling B. Rec. I 57.
Ane gown of wareant champit worset 1555 Crail Ch. Reg. 64.
Wyrset 1571 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 299.
20 belt of lasing worset … 40 belt of garteing worset 1575 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 335 (see (1) (e) above). 1586 Digest Justiciary Proc. L 21.
Worssett 1589 Edinb. Test. XXI 58.
Carvell vorset 1595 Edinb. Test. XXVIII 296b.
Braid craip worsett at ix s. the elne 1599 Exch. R. XXIII 318.
Grograne worset 1600 Treas. Acc. MS 68b.
Fyne Crawfurde Mwre wirset to be creddill beltis 1610 Brechin Test. II 86.
Thre pund littit virsit 1612 Brechin Test. II 252b.
Conterfut virsit 1618 Edinb. Test. L 164.
Worset figorata 1634 Orkney Bp. Ct. MS 93.
Four pund of plaid worsett 1662 Stirling B. Rec. I 239.
The great abuse committed be many of the weavers … who … buyeth insufficient worsett, such as Peebles worsett [etc.] 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 20 (1 Feb.).
4 dusson of small worsett iij li.(b) 1510 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 4.
Blew worseit(c) 1553 Treas. Acc. X 173.
vj quarterris lylis woursat to be … ane … skyrt … xxj s. a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 39.
This ladie gave … to the kirk of Seytoun … ane compleit stand of blak doubill wourset(d) 15… Coll. St. Salvator 155 n.
Tua pendiclis of ryd vursat(e) 1436 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 148.
Nigro wersed 1530 Balmerino and L. Chart. ii 32.
Thre dwiplats of dwbill wersat(f) 1546 Treas. Acc. VIII 472.
To be ane kirtill ix elnis lylis warsateb. c1521 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. IV 20.
Thre bolstaris, thre covertorris, of worsatis, thre pair of sheitis 1546 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 125.
Worsetts … to be sawld in steiks 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 201.
Silkis, worsattis … chamlettis, Holland clayth, serge [etc.] 1564–5 Treas. Acc. XI 344.
For ane vilicote of smale wirsettis xij li. 1568–9 Inverness Rec. I 174.
Wyrsattis 1569 Soc. Ant. VI 52 (see Cannoun n. 2).
Versettis 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 310.
All sorttis of … worsettis, drogettis, grosgranes [etc.] 1605 Edinb. Test. XL 300b.
Ane bedding of claythtis viz. scheittis worsettis, covering & cod 1609 Edinb. Test. XLVI 24b.
Thrie elnes of blew claith to be ane wyliecoit with ane pair of worsettis of aucht elnes 1623 Hawick Ann. 295.
Accusit for the thiftuous steilling … of ane pair of worsettis perteining to Jon Johnstoune … his wife 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII 303.
Fywe small heads of cullored worsetts 1681 New Mills Manuf. 2.
To buy att Peebles als much worsetts as he shall find fitteing for makeing course cloathes
2. Worsted yarn. Also pl.See also Cantailȝe n. for further examples.1501 Treas. Acc. II 27.
For iij pund of worsait to be frenȝeis for the samyne ruf of sey … xxiiij s. 1531 Treas. Acc. V 425.
Broudstar … for ij elnis ȝallow [gap] to the … coveris … Item, for ij pund Franche rede worset, j pund ȝallow worset, and half ane pund blak worset, price of the pund viij s. … Item for ane pund rede birge threde v s. vj d. … for paynting of the kingis armys to be ane patroun to the broudstar 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 255.
For xxiiij knoppis of worsat to the saidis renȝeis … xvj s. 1546 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS XXI 52b.
vj compter clathis sewit with wyrsat and sylk 1561–2 Treas. Acc. XI 152.
To Pier Martene, tapescher, to amend the quenis grace tapestrie, twa pund wecht of all hewis of wirsate … xxviij s. 1567 Treas. Acc. XII 50.
viij unce of blak wirsait [MS virsait] ix s. 1568–9 Crail B. Ct. MS 25 Jan.
Ane hespe of wersatt 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 253.
Fyve clewis of sindrie culloures of worsett 1611 McKay Kilmarnock 308.
Ane lang carpet, half worset half selk 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 296.
Cruell yairne, mocado endis or sewing worssett the dozen pound weght thairof 1615 Haddington Mem. II 292.
Ane wheill for worsett 1627 Nat. Lib. (Mar MS) 5114/2.
Tua curtingis of pirnet stuff frenȝeit with the same cullor of worsat 1640 Innes Sketches 510.
Ane pand schewit with silk and worsett with the Laird and Lady Glenvrquhy thair names and airmes thairon 1661 Acts VII 256/1.
For instructing of the poore childreen vagabounds and other idlers to fine and mix wooll, spin worstead & knit stockings 1694 Peebles B. Rec. II 146.
Servants … are very scarce through women gathering home … ther daughters and keeping them spining worset 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 168.
Well spun worsetpl. 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 89.
For frynȝeis of virsatis of all the saidis hewis to the samin [sc. canopy] xxx s. 1546 Aberd. B. Rec. I 236.
Any grit buyst, and certane kemmis, worsettis, spectikyllis, and wther small geir in it 1571 Inverness Rec. I 207.
Ane blak clewe of wyrsattis 1597 Bk. Rates in Halyb. cxiv.
Vorset callit sewing worsettis
3. attrib.a. Of garments, cloth, yarn: Made of or consisting of worsted. b. Of a bed: Furnished with worsted. c. Of embroidery: Done with worsted thread. d. With quheill: A spinning-wheel for spinning worsted thread.a. (1) 1478 Acta Aud. 67/1.
A woursett paraling 1491–2 Treas. Acc. I 202.
For ij dowbil wirssat beltis til him [sc. the king], price iij s. 1541 Treas. Acc. VII 448.
Worset frenȝeis 1541 Treas. Acc. VII 473.
viij skenȝe threid to mend the pannellis of the soume sadillis; … xij elnis worset rubennis to the curpellis thairof 1547–8 Treas. Acc. IX 143.
For making of hir warsat kirtill x s. 1561 Inv. Q. Mary 36.
Worset cusscheonis 1571 Edinb. Test. II 192b.
Worsat marlit gartanes 1575 Edinb. Test. III 329.
Worsat hatt 1575 Edinb. Test. III 364.
Worsat gluifis cullorit 1583 Perth B. Ct. 16 April.
Ane vorsat aprone 1588 St. A. Test. II 95b.
Worsat canteilȝeis 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 13 Aug.
Ane worsat coit 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 323.
Blak worset courtingis 1600 Treas. Acc. MS 77b.
Grene wirset pasmentis to be latchettis abone the silk pasmentis 1612 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 162.
A pair of sad gray wolfin virset schankis 1615 Thanes of Cawdor 238.
Ane pair of wirsat hois 1618 Bk. Dunvegan 118.
Foure beutting warset clathes 1681 Foulis Acc. Bk. 76.
A pair worsit Inglish stockins(b) 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 75b.
Hir worset aproun, hir werst veluot paitlet(c) 1599 Maxwell Mem. II 44.
Wostet stockings 1683 New Mills Manuf. 53.
Ane pair of wasted stockings(d) 1618 Edinb. Test. L 164b.
Foure pair wors schankis for men(e) 1658 Boyd Fam. P. No. 236 (27 Feb.).
Three peices of red curtingis with lace and a pand and a wisset fas(2) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 477.
For ane li. of blak worsat threid, viij s. 1604 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 45.
I inbuikit in the schip … xij ellis and a quarter bred thickit blew worzet clayth and send the sam … to Rowen to be littit ayther tanny or els rusche broun 1618 Bk. Dunvegan 117.
Thrie punds wecht worset [pr. worsel] threid 1635 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 510.
Worset ȝairne halff quheill and halff rock spun 1642 Edinb. Test. LX 41b.
Worsett stuffis 1661 Acts VII 254/1.
Worstead yearne for shewing 1663–6 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp 205.
Black worsted morela 1677 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 246.
Worse plaiding 1698 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 738.
Twelve elnes of good and sufficient weil wrought worset mixt stuffb. 1478 Acta Aud. 67/1.
j pare of blankatis ij worsett beddisc. 1555 Crail Ch. Reg. 64.
Thre oder frontallis, ane of sylk nedile werk, ane of wyrset nedile werk, and ane of blew chambelatd. 1631 Edinb. Test. LV 63b.
Ane auld worsett quheill pryce xiij s. iiij d. 1634 Peebles B. Rec. I 419.
Thes that spane at the wisserit quheill 1643 Edinb. Test. LX 280.
Ane worsett quheill pryce thairof x s.
4. comb.a. With maker, seller.b. With bolt, shop.a. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 221.
Johne Kid, worset maker 1618 Edinb. Test. Index II 330.
David Porteous, worset-sellerb. 1577–8 Exch. R. XX 296.
36 virsat boltis 1679 J. Somerville Mem. II 380.
Anna Hope, that then keeped the greatest, if not the only, worset shop in Edenburgh
