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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.

Flude, Fluid, n. Also: flwde, flud, fluide, flod(e, flood(e. [e.m.E. flood(e, fludde, ME. flud(e, flod(e, OE. flód.]

1. An overflow of water. c1420 Wynt. v. 5373.
The spatys and the flud The wallys off Rome a part ouryhud Ib. viii. 1842.
As a depe flwde Throw all the town thare ran rede blude 1482 Peebles B. Rec. 191.
Gif it happynnis that the said myln be our set with fludis or spattis 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 283.
To pynouris, for bering of the Kingis treis that the flude hed away 1535 Stewart 44642.
Mony one … With that same flude war borne quyt awa 1566 Peebles B. Rec. 303.
Except … that the said millis standis on bak watter be swperflws flwdis 1574 Inverness B. Rec. I. 239.
That the Wattir of Nes be the occasioun of fluidis … is able for to wesche … away the croft 1585 James VI Ess. 70.
As the very tops of mountains hie Be fluidis were … ouerflowed

b. spec. The flood of Noah; the Deluge. a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 150.
Be my slichtis gude I wes cause of Noese flude a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 721.
As flude of Noye this fyre sall flavme our all c1515 Asl. MS. I. 311/1.
Sem … in the secund ȝere efter the flud gat Arphaxat c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1541.
Affore the Flude … The sey wes all into ane place

c. Without article. c1420 Wynt. i. 231.
In prophecy … That fyre and flwde sulde all oure-ga 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 14.
Owder throu a watir brek or spait of flude 1533 Bell. Livy I. 17/28.
This ryver … was ȝett furth with large flude abone the brayis

d. transf. A copious stream. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 47.
Quhill flude of blude blyndit his ene 1513 Doug. i. vii. 95.
The flude of terys halyng our hys face c1590 J. Stewart 90/368.
Ane fluid aboundant bouting out besprent His boudin brest

2. A river. a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 15.
Scho drev Towart Arle … Of Rone endlange one the flud c1420 Wynt. i. 130.
Out of that welle cummys fludis foure Till moyst the erde c1460 Wisd. Sol. 353–4.
Al fludis enteris in the sey, and the seye ȝeldis neuer thai fludis agane in fludis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 308/25.
Riche fludis & ryveris, as Forth, Tay … Tweid [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I. 172.
He beildit ane huge wall … fra the mouth of Tyne, … to the flude of Esk 1581 Cath. Tr. 87/19.
Sa the flude Jordan ran contrare nature bakuart 1596 Dalr. I. 8/20.
The thrie fludes quilkes principallie ar in Ingland … ar Themes, Humbir. and Seuerne

3. The sea or other water. (Also in pl.) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 213.
The juge, … gert bynd the ȝounge man … and kest hym fer in the flud c1400 Troy-bk. i. 177.
It nedis ȝe sete ȝour schype to flude Ib. 360.
Fra ferre out oure the fludys c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 121.
Thare was the god of fludis, Neptunus 1535 Stewart 282.
Bark and boit … Weill furneist wes to fair attour the flude 15.. Clar. v. 2676.
Thay raisit saillis bent unto the height, And fuire ower fluide 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Forestarivs.
Sylua is ane wod neare adjacent to ane flude of water

4. In figurative uses. 1456 Hay I. 18/16.
The fludis and wellis of the faith 1490 Irland Mir. I. 152/9.
The flud of syn mycht na way approche to hir 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 3.
Gem of engyne and flude of eloquens 1567 Sat. P. iii. 54.
He swoumit in the fluidis of poetrie 1600-1610 Melvill 256.
With a mightie … fluide of eloquence he dinges tham … down

5. High water; full tide. 14.. Acts I. 22/2.
It sall be endyt wythin the thrid flud of the see c1400 Troy-bk. i. 137.
We … At the fyrst flude sall fare our way c1420 Wynt. ix. 221.
Swllway was at thare passyng All eb, that thai fand than on flud c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiii. 20.
Now eb, now flude