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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

As, Ais, n.¹ Also: asse (alse), ase, aise, es. [Northern ME. asse, var. of aske (see Askis) or of asche, ashe, OE. asce. Surviving in mod. Sc. as aise.]

1. Ash or ashes. (Common in 16th c.) a1500 Henr. Fab. 68.
Ane cok … Scraipand amang the as 1513 Doug. vi. iii. 135.
Eftir all was fallin in puldir and in as 1535 Stewart 4071.
Intill ane fyre tha brint it all in as 1549 Compl. 21/11.
Vas it nocht brynt in puldir ande asse? 1561 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 338.
Mwk, yird, aise, or ony sic filthines a1578 Pitsc. II. 136/9.
Gif I be brunt at this tyme thair sall ane hunder ryse in the asse of my bones 1596 Dalr. I. 95/13.
Breid … bakne vnder the asse 1603 Philotus lx.
To compair … the quhytest layke bot with the blackest asse 1663 Alford Rec. 22.
It was the asse of a bearne's navell

b. With reference to mankind. a1500 Henr. III. 157/40.
All erdly stait … sal be but differens Turnit in as c1500-c1512 Dunb. xii. 6–7.
Remembir that thow art bot as, And sall in as return agane 1549 Compl. 152/20.
I am bot puldir ande asse Ib. 22.
Al men ar eird and alse a1585, a1568 Montg. Ps. vi. 29.
Shall dust and asse in earth Thy glorie blaise? 1609 Garden Garden 21.
Now flesh and blood, now are we dust and asse

c. In plural form. 1492 Myll Spect. 286/13.
He … maid his moder Clemestre to be brynt and consumyt all in assis 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 122; etc.
O ȝe cald assys of Troy, and flawmys baith 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 154.
That thai … cast [not] thair assis nor fulȝe on the gait 1550 Knox III. 38.
Your selves aught to haif … careit away the assis 1581 Burne Disput. 36 b.
Ane breid baikin vnder the assis 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 142.
To be knet to ane staik … and brunt in asses c1650 Spalding I. 18.
To put ilkanes asses and bones in a kist 1650 Nicoll Diary 35.
Thair decormentis war all … brint to asses

2. Wood ashes, potash, as an article of merchandise.(a) 14.. Acts I. 306/2.
Of a barel wyth assis twa peniis 1482 Edinb. B. Rec. 45.
Barrell gudis, sic as pik, ter, meill, as 1548 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 259.
Item, viij barrell of as 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 281.
The barrellis of asse to be singit with haddir set on fyre 1574–5 Ib. II. 428.
Foure barrellis of as 1612 Conv. Burghs II. 375.
Followis the said impost: … yron, lint, and as, the last v s(b) 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. 201.
Walx, ais, pik and ter, battery, saip 1567 Edinb. Test. I. 83 b.
Aucht barrell of wraikit ais 1588 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 217.
To George Mathew thrie last of ais 1644 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 5 b.
Making of salt and heuking of ais(c) 1622 Edinb. Test. LI. .
Materiallis for litting … xxiiij barrellis of es