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.
Astart, v. (Also as p.t. and p.p.) [e.m.E. astarte, asterte, ME. asterte, asteorte. The Chaucerian form astert is used in the King's Q. and Q. of Jelusy.]
1. tr. To avoid, shun; to escape from.a1500 Lanc. 228 (al his tyme he couth it not astart); 1133 (thei mych it not asstart); etc. 1513 Doug. i. iii. 71 (onpunyst ȝe sal me not astart); xiii. v. 92 (quharby thou has sa gret dolour astart).
2. intr. a. To escape; to depart from.1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 133 (quhou think we he essonȝeis hym to astart?). c1590 Fowler 377/31 (ere from hir promise she astart).
b. To start or spring upon one.1513 Doug. xii. vi. 116 (he sone apon his aduersar astart).
3. tr. To cause to start.c1590 Fowler 349/35 (what euer me astarte, my harte is onely yours).
