A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Fle, v.3 P.t. and p.p. fleit, fleyt. [Var. of Fley v.]
1. tr. To put to flight through fear; to scare away. Also fig.?1438 Alex. ii. 1585.
Ȝonder ar the folk men may nocht fle a1500 Henr. Fab. 1701.
Quhen columbie vp keikis … Quhilk fleit wes befoir with frostis fell c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 115.
Within the graif to set sic thing … To fle the fendis 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 218.
Quhair is ȝour wit, … To fle avay my husband Commoun-weill? 1578 Glenartney MS. Doc.
Diuers … scarris, fleis, and banesis the deir and wyld bestes furth of the samin [forest]
2. To frighten; to scare.a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 515.
Thame in slepe sa fleyt he that [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 152.
Thy lymmerfull luke wald fle thame and thair dammis 1533 Gau 107/1.
The law … confundis and fleis and slais ȝour conscience 1540 Lynd. Sat. Procl. 141.
I tak on hand … This crakkand carle to fle with ane scheip heid 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 601.
[The assailants] dischargeit pistolettis at his wyff, … and fleit hir thairwith 1588 Crim. Trials I. ii. 163.
That thay come verry feirfull sumtymes, and fleit hir verry sair
b. In past pple. fleit, frightened, scared, terrified.a1400 Leg. S. ii. 330.
Luk and Titus war fleit sa, … thai war bowne to fle away c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 150.
Wherfor gretly Vlixes Was fleyt and Dyomedes 1523 Treas. Acc. V. 214.
Quhilkis lettres war takin be the gait, and the man bostit and fleit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 446.
I am brocht in ane greit fantasie, Quhilk hes me maid richt fleit and als affeird 1572 Sat. P. xxxi. 53.
And thair wer not a God abone, I wald be fleit … That all suld gang to wrak 1600 Crim. Trials II. 251.
I beguith to grow fleit, and suspect sum evil agans the King
