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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.

Athort, prep. and adv. Also: athowrt, athourt, athourcht, -tht, athowrtht, athorte, athortt, athoirt (athrocht, a quhort). [f. Thort with prefixed a-; cf. late ME. athirt (c 1500), e.m.E. athwart (late 16th c.).]

A. prep. 1. Across; from one side of (a place or thing) to the other. 1458 Liber Aberbr. 104.
Fra thyn north owr athowrt the mwr tyll ane strype 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 73.
Fra the burn of Altecref athort the west pairt of the bray 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 264.
For ane pece tre that lyis a quhort the dam 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 177.
The castle men wer chased athort Hakkerstounes croft a1578 Pitsc. I. 188/11.
They fand the doore standand oppin and ane deid man lyand athort it 1591 Misc. Spald. C. III. 161.
Ane great chaine of irne … quhilk usit to be put athort the water mouth 1605 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 277.
They saw … James Watt strik … Willeam Ingram … on the arme and athort the scholderis 1624 Black Bk. Taymouth 365.
Ilk … cadger sall pey aucht penneyis … for evry lead of salt that they carey athrocht the bridges c1650 Spalding II. 287.
Thay hurt the said Mr. George Leslie with ane schot athort the ribbis

2. Across in various directions; to and fro over. 1549 Compl. 38/3.
The borial blastis … hed chaissit the fragrant flureise … far athourt the feildis Ib. 111/12.
Eftir diuerse turnand coursis athourtht the cuntre, he returnit … to the forsaid toune 1570 Sat. P. x. 111.
Sa did the Papistis all, athort this land 1570 Ib. xv. 100.
Ȝit wald ȝe that ȝour names war knawin Athort all Cristindome 1582 Conv. Burghs I. 131.
Frome Alloway to the watter of Tay athortt the haill coist syde a1605 Montg. Flyt. 203.
Abreid, athort ȝour bankis and brais, Ȝe do abound in coill and calk 1592 Acts III. 554/1.
Beggaris wandering athort the realme 1600-1610 Melvill 606.
The noble poster of newis athort the world 1611-57 Mure Dido ii. 274.
The deir … Coursing abroad, athort the fields 1617 Ellon Presb. 99.
Counterfeit bards and fuills that rynes athort the countreyfig. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 64/5.
Thow may se thame as it war fleand athort al the buikis of Godis law

b. Abroad through or among. 1594 Misc. Bann. C. III. 169.
The … name of this weirlyk chiftane dois fle and pas athort the mouthis of all men 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 157.
To pas athort all the honest and substantious nichtbouris 1637 Baillie I. 9.
A pamphlet of his, goeing athort our people Ib. 33.
That booke, which was given out athort the shoppes of Edinburgh

B. adv. 1. So as to lie across or transversely. 1549 Compl. 102/20.
Ane vthir speyr set … athort betuix the tua speyris c1590 Fowler 106/62.
Brenus vnder whom did fall full manye a man athort

2. About; from point to point. 1567 G. Ball. 109.
The montanis muifit & ran athort lyke rammis 1565 Prot. Bk. J. Foulis 72.
He … past to the west end of the said kirk … quhair he inlikvis past athort & veseit 1570 Sat. P. x. 365.
Maist diligent he wes to ryn athort, To gif the wedow and fatherles comfort a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii. 76.
As we haif hard report Of wandring fame, vhilk fleeth ay athort 1638 Baillie I. 33.
There goes a speech athort in the name of the Duke of Lennox

3. About, in turn. 1602 Stirling B. Rec. I. 101.
To gif the saidis doctouris daylie burding as it sal happin ordourlie to cum athorte