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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.

Fut(e, Fuit, Fit, n. Also: fwt, fuyt, fwyt, fwit, futt, fitt; fowt, fout(e, foot(te. Pl. fete, feitt, feyt, feitte, feet(e, fetis, feittis; fut(e, futis, futt(i)s, footis, -es, foot(t)s. [ME. fote (fowte), fot, fut, OE. fót; pl. feete, fete, OE. fét, and fotes, OE. fótas.]

1. The foot of a person or animal.a. Sing. (a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 184.
Scho had nothir fut na hand To helpe the barne 14.. Acts I. 375/2.
Ane e for ane e, a fut for a fut c1420 Wynt. i. 717.
Quhen thai ly on erde to slepe … Than that a fwt wpe thai streke 1490 Irland Mir. I. 28/9.
As the hand helpis the fut to put on the schone 1513 Doug. vii. xi. 117.
Thar left fut and all that leg was bair 1562 Digest Justiciary Proc. D. 47.
He [being] impotent be the said hurt of twa tais of his left fut a1586 Lindsay MS. 86 b.
The Empriour is set in ane law seige at the Papis fut c1650 Spalding I. 307.
Thay … fastnit his fut in ane changȝie(b) 1375 Barb. iii. 737.
The Kingis folk, that war Deliuer off fute, thaim gan ourhy c1420 Wynt. i. 714.
Thar sum folk bot a fute has Ib. v. 1109.
Be the fute a wyff hym gat c1475 Wall. iv. 242.
With his fute the ȝett he straik wp rycht a1500 Henr. Fab. 819.
Ay rinnis the foxe, als lang as he fute has 1539 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. 10.
Ane stand of harnes batht for fute & hors 15.. Clar. i. 57.
His fute sadly throw the stirrip ȝeid c1590 Fowler I. 66/217.
Lyke as one who … With one fwte fordwart goeth on 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 107.
To put hir ane hand to the croune of hir heid, and the other to the soile of hir fute 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 136 b.
Gif … he offers his awin fute for his pledge that he sall not passe or flee away(c) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 36.
He sa harde is bundyne now … That he ma nothire stere fowt na hand(d) 1509 Thanes of Cawdor 121.
I … in takynning heroff brekkis this dische wyth fyir, wyth my awyn futte, as custome is 1592 Montg. Misc. P. lvi. i.
Stay, passinger, thy mynd, thy futt, thy ee(e) 1535 Stewart 54755.
Sum but ane fit, and sum als but ane hand a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 3 b.
A gangand fit is ay getting Ib. 20.
Thou should not tell thy foe when thy fit slides 1627 Elgin Rec. II. 199.
Ther came doun a defluction in his fit that he micht not come 1694 Red Bk. Menteith I. 429.
Tuo statues of fyne hewen ston at length from head to fittb. Plur. (a) a1400 Leg. S. i. 687.
On the croice to be festnyt swa, Myn fet vp-wart 14.. Acts I. 378/2.
Gif he turnis the tais of his fet quhar the helis stud before that he gayn say that dome(b) c1420 Wynt. i. 788.
Thare owsyn ar … Witht fete as here on hors yhe se 1456 Hay I. 64/11.
He defendit him with fete and handis 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 10 (R).
We … Did … beik oure bodyis, fete, and handis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxviii. 14 (M).
Ȝe mend the faltis of ewill maid fete c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4039.
The strandis of blude ran throuch the stretis Off dede folk trampit under fetis(c) 14.. Acts I. 67/2.
Thai sal wyth thar handis and thar feit delf the erde a1500 Bk. Chess 836.
Spurris of gold apon his feit suld be 1501 Treas. Acc. III. 130.
Johne Anderson that wantis the feit and handis 1513 Doug. i. vi. 166.
Hir habyt fell doun coveryng to hir feit 1549 Compl. 11/29.
The armis, the myddil, and the feit of the fyift [lady] 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 153 b.
Thai ar certane … thai salbe in heauin or thair feit be cauld 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 191.
Willame Browne his calf … thow tuik the cluis from four feitt of it 1623 Peebles Gleanings 17.
Marioun tuik her be the craig and pullit her under her feit 1673 Melrose R. Rec. II. 346.
For … strykeing and baitting of … his spouse with his hands and feitt(d) 1489 Treas. Acc. I. .
For a bassing to wesche the kingis feyt in 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 7.
We … Did bawne and beyk our bodeys, feyt, and handis Ib. vii. xiii. 69.
The swyft solis of his tendir feyt 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 176.
Ane stark to vork the leddyr vpoun with thair feytt a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxix. 134.
Thocht I haue nocht thy precious feyt to kis Als had the Magdalen

b. In figurative or allusive use. 1456 Hay I. 110/34.
Thir ressounis … may hald na fut in lautee Ib. II. 46/17.
To hald the kingis rychtis on fut a1500 Henr. Fab. 2175.
Thre battis he buir, or he his feit micht find a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 473.
Throu England, thef, and tak thé to thy fute c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. lxxxi. 47.
Sen that the help is in thy handis And on thy feyt thi weilfair standis 15.. Christis Kirk 165.
He gart his feit defend his heid 1568 Pref. Lyndsay 5.
Quhen thay had the ball at thair fute 1562-3 Winȝet I. 97 marg.
The commoun prouerb is ouer trew, Lat the sow put in ane fute, &c. 1571 Fergusson Tracts 70.
We sal find thair schooe … meit aneuch for our fute 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 286.
The blake oxe hes neuer trampit vpoun your foute 1596 Dalr. II. 152/1.
Angus and the Quene tuke thame to thair fute, and fled to … Ingland

2. On fute (also apon fute, on his (etc.) fute or fete, on thair fete). a. In or into a standing posture, either by rising or dismounting. 1375 Barb. vii. 206.
Delyuerly on fut gat he Ib. xiv. 122.
The erle … Lichtit on fut with his menȝhe a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 349.
The abbat … gat on his fete & stert hir fra c1420 Wynt. v. 3990.
The prestys … Suld be … on fut standand Ib. vii. 54.
On fwte at lykyng thow may lycht c1500 Fyve Bestes 128.
On fut than gat this gentill vnicorne c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 243.
Apon my fete I sprent 1535 Stewart 36480.
Than vp he rais rycht fraklie on his feit a1500 Peblis to Play 115.
Ane vther stert vpon his feit a1578 Pitsc. I. 272/35.
The lord Home stude all that night on his futte

b. Walking, in implied or expressed contrast to riding. (For on hors and fute see Hors n.)(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 353.
He fra thine on fute wald ga; And tak on fute bath weill and wa Ib. vii. 60.
He ran on fut alwayis him by a1400 Leg. S. xl, 557.
Ȝet wald he mekly on fete ga c1420 Wynt. vi. 274.
Off hys hors than wald he lycht, And on hys fute he wald ga rycht Ib. viii. 2262.
Thare Jhon Stwart apon fute … tynt the lyff 1456 Hay I. 116/3.
In sik place may be that folk on fut is better na hors Ib. II. 134/30.
To … mak oft and ferr voyagis on fut a1500 Bk. Chess 2106.
The men with men fechtis apone fute 1513 Doug. vi. xv. 80.
Quhidder so aganyst him he went on feit, Or ȝit on horsbak Id. K. Hart 267.
He followit fast on fute eftir the king 1533–4 Melville Chart. 76.
He gangand apoun fuitt, and the said laird … on horsebak, lychtit apoun him 1570 Leslie 104.
Going secretlie away on thair futte 1596 Dalr. I. 99/21.
A verie abiecte man thay halde him that gangis vpon his fute ony voyage 1600-1610 Melvill 707.
Mr. William Scott [etc.] … followit on fut(2) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 242/13.
This parliament … chargit all maner of man till be at Edinburgh baith on fut & hors 1535 Stewart 7831.
With mony forra baith on fitt and hors c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2374.
Thay bryng mad men, on fuit and horsse 1570 Reg. Morton I. 57.
Warne all the gentill men … to be wyth ther haill forces bayth on fut and horse

c. On the fete, of cattle; On the hoof, alive. 1533 Treas. Acc. VI. 164.
For iiij martis on the feit

3. a. Fute and hand, in various contexts. 1375 Barb. xi. 96.
He had wicht men … Armyt clerly at fut and hand a1400 Leg. S. vi. 591.
[To] ger the appostil one tham stand, Bundyne faste bath fwt & hand c1420 Wynt. v. 3280.
Two thowsand Off men armyt bathe fute and hand ?1438 Alex. ii. 367.
The lordis sonnes … Quhilkis seruit him with fute and hand c1460 Thewis Gud Women 109.
Be ferme of hed, fut and hand c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 36.
Thai scurgit him baith fut and hande 1535 Stewart 23830.
Tha war baith tane and fast bund fit and hand 1562-3 Winȝet I. 114 marg.
Ȝea, the cailwyfe seis ȝow heir, bund fute and hand

b. Fute for (or be) fute, keeping pace together. a1500 Henr. Fab. 196 (A).
And thus thai fure … Syne fute for fut vnto thair chalmere ȝude 1513 Doug. xii. xii. 134.
He, fute for fute, persewys him fervently 1530 Lennox Mun. 235.
He … past fwit be fwit with my said Lord … in spasing and bounding of the dyk 1535 Stewart 31538.
Fit for fit to Forfar all tha fuir 1595 Conv. Burghs I. 468.
That thai be nocht trublit … without the pairtie purchessour … pas with thame fute for fut 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII. 239.
Ye and … your neighbour came foot for foot to the foresaid meeting

c. Undir fute, in figurative use. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 129/30.
Quhy trampit ȝe nocht thai abuseis vnder fuit c1590 Fowler II. 93/27.
Findinge … all these factions brought vnder fuit 1600-1610 Melvill 648.
All his enimies salbe strampit under fitt

d. At hir fute (or fete), of a calf or stirk, still going with the cow. 1500 Acta Conc. II. 360.
It was allegit … that the sade Archbald tuke … a cow, a calf and a stirk at hir fute for the sade horse 1584 St. A. Test. II. 48.
Ane kow with ane calf at hir feett 1586 Grant Chart. 290.
Sax [ky] with calfis at thair fut, and vther sax haifand sax stirkis at thair fut 1595 Brechin Test. I. 132 b.
Ane milk kow with ane calf at hir fit

4. The length of a foot in forward movement. 1375 Barb. xi. 642.
A fut till hym thou sallnocht ga a1400 Leg. S. x. 60.
With thare sorcery wald tha Lat [= hinder] men to gange a fute away Ib. xix. 134.
A fowt forthyre wil I nocht ga a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1284.
With thé he wil nocht gang ane futt a1500 Doug. K. Hart 603.
That I no fut micht find [leg. found] be eist or west Bot euir in warde 1535 Stewart 46172.
Or [= ere] ony man ane fit farder hed socht To bring to thé sic bodwart 1567 Sat P. v. 10.
Think it is nouther strenth nor fors, That has set ȝow a fuite befoir 1609 Gardyne Garden 39.
As fixed fast, I fotch no futt [: sitt]

b. A foot as a measure of length.The singular is commonly used as a plural with numbers, and the plural form is usually futis or variants of this.(1) c1420 Wynt. vi. 254.
Hys berd a fwte wes large off lenth 1512 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 109.
[The] tre to be … new ayk, a large fute of the squar quhen it is dychtit 1549 Compl. 20/30.
At this tyme ane fut of hicht of the vallis can nocht be sene c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4093.
Thare is no Jow … Quhilk hes one fute of properte 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 348.
Price of ilk fut [of glass] setting a1578 Pitsc. II. 81/23.
To that taikin he bend into the fyre ane fute of height(2) 1375 Barb. x. 547.
A schort leddir, … I trow of tuelf fut it may be a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 460.
A lang plat Of fyftene fute of lynth c1420 Wynt. iv. 438.
Off haylstanys than ane fell … awcht fute brayd 1437 Reg. Dunfermline 285.
Thar sel be ten fute of the rynryg of the Abbot 1499 Halyb. 251.
A mat to his chamer xx. fut lang and als brad 1512 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 109.
He sall big a mylne hous … xxiiij fute lang and xvj fute wyid 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 395.
Ane substantious brig … with passage convenient of saxten fwit of breid c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2735.
Towris … Off heycht, two hundreth fute and more a1578 Pitsc. I. 251/16.
Scho was ten fute thik in the waill(3) 1456 Hay I. 48/22.
A dragoun … the quhilk held in lenth sex score of futis 1529 M. Works Acc. I. 13.
vij peis lang werk of xl fuytis of lentht 1532 Reg. Privy S. II. 167/1.
To big and set furth ane turnpyk tua futtis furth in the winde 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 472.
Four hairth stanis contenand xiiij futes of lenth 1577 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 38 b.
Two cott housis … with tuentie fuitis of leinth befoir thair durris 1602 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 308.
The lenth of sex scoir fute and the breid of thre scoir futes 1660 Lanark B. Rec. 179.
To build up on that waist common roume … threttein futts of braid c 1680 Coll. Aberd. & Banff 97.
This year one [whale] was taken … of seventy foots 1684 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 358.
A litle hows of the length of thretty footts or thereby

c. A foot as a unit of measurement for glass, wood, masonry, etc.(1) 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 296.
For 2200 fut of plankis … to the gret schip 1512 Ib. V. 116.
[For] reparalling the queueis chamber vii^xx and xj fut glas 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 193.
Of the stanis that thai sall win, … the fute of lang werk that passis five fete, v d 1607–8 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 560.
Sax futt of riging to the Kirk(2) 1529 M. Works Acc. I. 15 b.
Resauit … lx fuyttis, viz. xxx fuyttis sargis, … [and] other thretty fuittis ornale 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 348.
viij futtis auld glass new set in leid 1581–2 Misc. Spald. C. V. 53.
Payt for the glessin wyndok to the skoull, contenit twelff futtis 1626 M. Works Acc. XIX. 9.
To the tirleis maker … ffor xv fittis of tirleis for the laiche voltis within the castell 1637 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 127.
Certane footes of wall neirest the [kirk] style(3) 1611 M. Works Acc. IX. 3.
Fyue new wondokes extendiis … in feittes till fiftie foure feit, … seventene fet of new glas at iij s. the feit

d. pl. A length or extent of (so many) feet of land, wall, stone, etc. 1492 Peebles B. Rec. 194.
[They] grantit tham to be fowely pait be the town for fourty futtis of the stepil byggin c1515 Asl. MS. I. 322/25.
Lo, Alexander ȝisterday nocht content of all the warld; this day vij futis of it is lord of him 1510 Dunferm. B. Rec. 358.
Resignacione … of five futtis and a half of thar land 1597 Elgin Rec. II. 48.
William Murray and John Warden sall big in this ouk ten futtis of the Kirkȝaird dyik 1639 M. Works Acc. XXIX. 42 b.
To Gorg Duncane for … xviij iiij fouttis stanes … ; to him for twa fyue futtis stanes

5. The bottom of a hill or other eminence. 1375 Barb. x. 602.
Till the fut soyne cummyn ar thai Of the crag 1488 Reg. Paisley 407.
The heide dike nuke at the fuite of the Hadryhil 1533 Bell. Livy I. 199/28.
Ane pepill duelling at the fute of the montanis 1538–9 M. Works Acc. VI. 17 b.
Ledand fre stane fra the heich quarellis … to the hill fut 1549 Compl. 52/1.
He vil see ane schip farrar on the seye nor … at the fut of the hil 1556 Peebles B. Rec. 230.
The gray marche stane at the Faw Bank fut 1595 Reg. Great S. 90/2.
Beginnand … at the north syd of the burne … at the fit of the north bank 1603 Moysie 90.
He … stayed his horse at the hill fute 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 100.
At which time they … are catched with any kind of fish, at rock foots, under water

6. The lower end of a piece of ground, enclosure, way, stream, or similar feature. 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxiii.
The Ile of Albioun … fra the fute thairof … procedis ay more small, quhill [etc.] 1538 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 59.
In tyme cuming that the gres be sawld at the fute of the kirk ȝaird 1547 Prot. Bk. W. Corbet 8.
Passand … as the ald dyik gangis on to the fwt of the lone 1565 Bamff Chart. 101.
Beginnand at the fute of the stryp that falls out of the Crawberry myre 16.. Hist. Kennedy 47.
At the fut of the bog thair wes ane cumpany of feall dykis Ib.
The ane at the heid of the feallis, and the wther at the futt 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 290.
In the bigging of his land at the fute of the Over bow 1655 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 303.
To build ane peice of the kirk yaird dyke for ane buriall place at the futt therof

b. With local term preceding. See also Close-fute. 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 19.
Thomas Aichinsoun['s] … lugeing in Todrikis Wynd fute 1590 Lanark B. Rec. 97.
The brig at the cors at Welgat fuit 1631 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 4.
The building of ane peir at the Kelburne fute 1662 Highland P. III. 24.
The devill … convoyed her to the loaning fitt 1682 Peebles B. Rec. II. 102.
Fra the steep to baillie Hopes land foott … and fra baillie Hopes land foot to the sand bed

7. The bottom or lower part of any standing thing; a base or support.(1) c 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 202.
A gryit crois … standand apon a gret fute closit wyth a pyn of siluer 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 533.
Ane bois cowp of silvir, wantand the knop, the fut lowse 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 176.
Ane flesching buird, with ane fuyt 1563 Peebles B. Rec. 289.
Ane litill bikker callit ane salt fat with ane fute of esche 1584 Argyll Lett. 62.
Tua siluer fuitis with their coueris 1610 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 174.
The siluir fut of the quhyte cope weyis aucht vnce 1637 S. Leith Rec. 27.
Ane greate gould coupe … the fit and stalk thairof of silver ower guilt with gould(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1086.
At the ledder fute his leif he tais 1534–5 Linlithgow Pal. 323.
For lxxviij bottis to the trest feit of the gret hall 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 139.
Ane bot that beris togidder the pulpit fit 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 647/2.
Ane frontell … , for the syde and the feit of ane bede 1597 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 64 b.
To the calsay maker for calseing the fute of the spout 1618 M. Works Acc. XV. ii. 49 b.
For iij great aikin tries to be feitt & brydillis to the ruiff 1643 Edinb. Test. LX. 240 b.
Two futtis of reid cofferis(3) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 105.
At last they wan to the fute of the biggit wall a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 151.
Ȝour hous is build on him, … So now I houpe his helpe … Sall found and fix it faster on ane fit 1600–1 State Papers (Reg. H.) No. 108. 10.
He … saw the maister lyand deid at the blak turnepyk fute

b. The end of a staff. 1681 Thanes of Cawdor 357.
For the virrell to the fuit of the stafe

8. The bottom line or lines of an account; the sum stated there. 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 13.
Allow it to the comptare for his superexpensis of his last compt as schewit in the fute of it 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 2.
The quhilkis auditouris fyndis the rentell in the said yer with the fut of the rest of the last count xxxiij li. xiij s. 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 281/1.
The soum … restand on him in the chekker rollis in the fute of his last compt 1569–70 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 651/2.
The fwtt of his compt wilbe i^m i^c lib. 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 203.
[The] thesaurer to … pay to William the sowm of sextein pund … restand awand to him at the fuite of his comptis 1676 St. A. Baxter Bks. 102.
It wes fund be the fuit therof that he restit the craft iii lib. xii s

b. The end of a letter. 1625 Bk. Carlaverock II. 68.
In the fit of Seigneur George his letter, I doe testifie [etc.]

9. A metrical foot. 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 126.
Quhair I it fand into plane prois … Without cullour or feit 1585 James VI Ess. 57.
Sa is the hinmest lang syllabe the hinmest fute Ib. 60.
Gif your lyne be of aucht fete

10. Foot-soldiers, infantry. (Cf. Hors n.) 1587-99 Hume vii. 102.]
[Murrions for men of fute 1639 Black Bk. Taymouth 83.
The levies of hors and futt imposit vpon him 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 23.
Sex thousand men or theirby, fute and horse 1647 Ib. 75.
The tuo regiments of futt