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.
Bastard, adj. Also: bastarde, bastart, basterd. [Attrib. use of Bastard,n. corresp. to ME. bastard. -arde.]
1. Of illegitimate birth; base-born.c1420 Wynt. vii. 376 (Malcolmys bastard sowne); 799 (this Willame had a bastard brodyr). a1500 Henr. Fab. 799 (this foxe, bastard of generatioun). c1515 Asl. MS. I. 221/25 (ane bastard sone to Archebald). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 312 (his bastard blude). 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 715/2 (throw being borne bastarde). 1567 G. Ball. 189 (sa mekle bastard seid). a1578 Pitsc. I. 283/4 (bastard smaike, thou lies); II. 255/12 (ane bastart sone of the laird of Wemysis). 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII. 136 (I leue to my bastard las fourtie poundis). 1596 Dalr. II. 383/19 (the queinis basterd brother).
2. Not proper, true, or genuine.1436 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 147.
Vna pecia ... de bastard silke Ib.
Vnum vestimentum nigrum de la bastert schilke a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1390 (bastard blythnes and clokit corrupcioun). 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 117 (sum bastard Latyn). 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 83 (ten unce of bastard caile seid). 1572 Edinb. Test. II. 222 b (ane pund of bastard silk). 1643 Ib. LX. 354 (ane sellar of bastard sek).
b. Of a different size from the usual. 1525 Aberd. Reg. MS. XV. (Jam. (1825) s.v. Bastard pyp).
Ane bastard pyp of fegis and rasingis 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 86.
Ane dosone of pot foirtie, ane dosone of pot bastard, ane dosone of littill potis
3. Culverin bastard: see Culverin(g.
