Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Forest, Forrest, n. Also: foreste, forast. [e.m.E. for(r)est, ME. (a 1300) and OF. forest, med. L. foresta, forestum.] A forest.(a) 1375 Barb. ix. 1.
Now leif we in-to the forest Douglas, that sall haf litil rest Ib. xvii. 186. a1400 Leg. S. xl. 430.
Quhare now the corne is beste, That tyme wes [bot] wilde foreste 14.. Acts I. 324/2.
Gif copy of ackornys hapnis to be in the kingis forest c1420 Wynt. vi. 1197.
The Empryoure … trawelyd sa lang in that forast In gamyn 1456 Hay II. 28/36.
The warld, quhilk is as a forest and wildernes quhen it is not wele redde 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 65.
Woddis, forestis, … Stude stripit of thare wede 1560 Rolland Seven S. 21.
Ane fair forest he had … Quhairin thair was rinning ane grit wild bair(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2428.
The Kingis of Thesaly ware wount In-to that forrest for to hount 1578 Glenartney Doc.
Diuers our leigis … puttis thair guides in the samin forrest eittand and distroyand … the gers thairof 1596 Dalr. I. 7/10.
Heir agane sall ȝe se … a thin forrest, thair a thick wodd 1633 Buccleuch Mun. II. 274.
William Scott, chalmerlane of the forrest

b. With place-names. [A foresto de Seleschirche; a 1153 Facs. Nat. MSS. I. 12. 1330 Exch. R. I. 340.]
Usque forestam del Selkirk 1375 Barb. xvi. 363.
To hew Jedwort forrest sa clene, That na tre suld tharin be sene 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Yhour men of Inglande … has heryde … a part of Etryke forest 1473 Peebles B. Rec. 20.
Oure balveis … and ministeris of oure saide forest of Ettrik 1506 Douglas Chart. 185.
The nethir forrest of Cummyrnawld 1518 Glenartney Doc.
Kepars of our forest of Glenarknay a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcv. 17.
Thai haue neir hand hirreit haill Ettrik forrest and Lawderdaill

c. With the adj. fre. 1435 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 189.
The Cabrach, with the halfdawach in fre forest annexit to the sad lordschep of Auchindor 1500 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 219.
Thai sal pay the half of the reuenowis … of fre forest to the said Maister Androw

2. Attrib. with end, side, stede; chese, woll (from Ettrick forest); court; kist, werk.a. 1375 Barb. xiv. 391.
Richarde of Clar, and other … war Herbryit in-till a forest syde ?1438 Alex. ii. 3981.
Clarus sonnes … sall … fle syne to the forrest end c1475 Wall. viii. 1013.
A ryoll sted, fast by a forest sid 1492 Acta Conc. 208/2.
Wrangwis … manuring of the forest stede of the haining wythin the forest of Ettrik 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 749/1.
Oure tennentis and inhabitaris of oure forest steidis of Fairneleyb. 1493 Halyb. 17.
Sald … 3 sekis forest woyll 1495 Acta Conc. 428/2.
Aucht stane of woll, forest fyne merchand gude 1561 Edinb. B. Deeds 9.
The said Thomas … hes sauld … thrie score stanes woll … of his awin growin of forrest woll 1578 Events Q. Mary & Jas VI 41.
I haif send … vj grit forrest cheis of the best I cwld getc. 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 285/1.
Dischargeing his ballies, commissaris of his forest courtis … of the takyn of ony entreis in the said stedingd. 1507 Dunferm. B. Rec. 163.
A forest kyst, … a turnit chair [etc.] 1695 Edinb. Test. MS. LXXX. 134.
In the dyneing roum 3 peace of forrest work arras hingings