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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.

But, adv.¹ and prep. ² Also: butt, bwt(e. [Early ME. boute, bute outside, without, OE. bútan.]

1. In or towards the outer part or end of a house or other building. (Cf. Ben adv.) c1420 Wynt. v. 3459.
The ymage off oure Lady … tuk hyr rayk … But in the kyrk Ib. 3893.
Owt off the qwere … And bwte, amang the comwnawte a1500 Rauf C. .
Knap doun capounis of the best, but in the byre c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 487; Ib. 494.
Mony blenkis ben our, that but full fer sittis a1540 Freiris Berwik 151.
Than but scho went, to se gif ony come a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 35.
He pendit the queir from the rymbrasis but 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 69.
He … saw hyr ryis in the mornyngis and cum but 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 335.
Adam immediately causit beir butt the deid corpis to the chalmer of daice 1622-6 Bisset i. 147/10.
It is statut that na persone solist the lordis or clerkis that passis but to the uttir house 1622 Elgin Rec. II. 174.
Niniane Dauidsone … brocht butt drink to the haill hous

b. But and ben, in (or to) both the outer and inner parts. Also transf., abroad and at home; everywhere. a1400 Leg. S. ix. 22.
For-thi the tempil of syk mene Wes fillit ful, but & ben a1500 Henr. Fab. 360 (A).
Scho passit till hir den … benely stuffit, baith but and ben, Of nutis [etc.] 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 53.
Furyus flambe … Spredyng fra thak to thak, baith but and ben 1535 Stewart 24975.
With bigging bair that tyme, baith but and ben Tha left all waist Ib. 33042.
Bayth kirk and queir … Bayth butt and ben wer all reformit new a1568 Bann. MS. 120 b/27.
Ay as ȝe gang but & ben c1590 J. Stewart 55/92.
Butt and ben he bends from bour to bour 1596 Dalr. I. 140/18.
Quhill he rules butt and benn [L. domi forisque] 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. ii. 42.
Thy reason hear both but and ben halts

2. prep. Through (a house, etc.) towards the outer part or end. 15.. Clar. ii. 1629.
The merchellis … Full bissilie went ben and but the hall 1622 Crim. Trials III. 509.
The said Margaret … brocht him out of his bed and thaireftir led him but the hous 1643 Misc. Abbotsf. C. I. 176.
Quhen the lass cam but the hous