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.

Couth, a. Also: cuth, cowth(e, kowth. [ME. cowthe, couth(e, cuth (e, OE. cúþ.] Known, familiar. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 250.
Schewing hyme be spek of mouth, & be his fyngire mad him cuth a1500 Henr. Fab. 1356.
I wes fane, Of that cowth word, and of his cumpanie Ib. 1368.
My wryting … Is couth and kend to mony cunning clerk a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 376.
Thai war courtes and couth thair knyghthed to kyth 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 131.
Our folkis … that warryn blyth … Of this kowth [v.r. couth] surname of our new cite 1533 Boece ii. xi. 81.
Thai defendit that the chiftane suld nane vthir way be namyt than the auld & couth terme 1535 Stewart 34952.
Fra that tyme furth sic aythis wes not couth Ib. 49530.
The Scottis lordis … That keipit kyndnes to him and war couth 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2529.
As for ane fule, ȝe are ane wonder couth a1568 Scott i. 143.
To quenche thir quent calamiteis so cowth, God gife thé grace