Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Boutgate, -gait, n. [f. bout About adv., Gate n.] A round-about way or course; an equivocation or evasion. 1573 Cath. Tr. 3/13.
I haue … ansuerit, without ony boutgaitt or subterfuge from the mater 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 62.
The proud and craftie heretikis … sekis all the boutgaittis to vreist Christis maist plane vordis 1585 Calderwood IV. 339.
Affirming, that maters of religioun would not be handled sophisticallie, nor boutgates, nor dissimulatioun, used in them 1590-1 Bruce Serm. (1591) T 2 a (J).
Gif the Ethnick might say justlie, that the boutgates and deceites of the hearte of man are infinite 1596 Dalr. I. 102/15.
Fra ance thay take the pray, be boutgates alanerlie & bygates … thay cum quhair thay walde be 1604 Crim. Trials II. 435.
Quhilk I behuffit to do for his fals boutgaittis 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix. 35.
The vnion is so indissoluble, that neyther prescription of tyme … nor bout-gate of circumstance can giue a regresse 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. ii. 41.
But who reason in generals … They bring but bout-gates and golinȝies