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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1438, 1499-1619
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Beft(e, p.t. and p.p. Also: beffit, baft. [Northern ME. beft, ONhb. beafton (pl.). The infinitive is not recorded.]
1. tr. Struck with blows, beat or beaten, buffeted: a. With reference to persons.(a) p.t. a1400 Legends of the Saints v. 421.
He rafe his clathis & befte his face a1400 Ib. xxviii. 190; etc.
Scho … raf hir hare, & beft hyre-self c1420 Wynt. v. 1956 (C).
Scho bryssit and beffit bak and banys c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 78.
The golk, … the gled, Beft him with buffettis quhill he bled 15.. Christis K. (B).
With bowgaris of barnis thay beft blew kappis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 89.
Thow … enterit wpon the said John, dang and beft him [etc.] 1602 Criminal Trials II. 388.
Williame … with ane rung beft, straik and dang him vpoune the heid 1612 Ib. III. 243.
He … beft and dang him in the heid … and sydis(b) p.p. a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 631.
He for ws … wes bondyn & befte a1400 Ib. xxxviii. 345.
Thane wes he sare with scurgis befte ?1438 Alex. i. 22.
Oft the kingis menȝe ware Rebutit, beft and woundit sair a1500 Golagros and Gawane 870.
He wes byrsit and beft, and braithly bledand c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 104.
Behald … how Beft is with mony bludy wound Thy blissit Salvatour 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 121.
Quhou he was dung and beft intill hys sleip c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 737.
That monie ane beft war on thair bakkis 15.. Clariodus iii. 732.
As scho with scurgis had beine all to beft 1619 Criminal Trials III. 467.
The dittay, beiring the defunct to haif bene beft and dung with ane rung
b. With reference to things. Also with doun.?1438 Alex. ii. 3633.
Thair I haue beft [F. batu] the busk bare, And ane vthir hes tane the hare 1513 Doug. ii. x. 78.
The wroth of the goddis has down beft The city of Troy 1513 Ib. ix. vi. 118.
Cowpys and goblettis, forgyt fare, and beft Of massy syluyr
2. intr. To deliver blows.?1438 Alex. ii. 1675.
Thair dang he on, bare doun and beft a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 822.
Baft on thair basnetis thay beirnis or they blan c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 40.
Sum vpoun vdir with brandis beft
