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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1420, 1490-1596
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Gest, Geist, n.1 Also: geast; cheste. [ME. (a 1300) and OF. geste, L. gesta.]
1. A tale or story, a legend or history.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xiv. 27.
He … gestis that he leyryt Of vthris apostolis put in wryt, & syne of thame al mad a buke a1400 Ib. xix. 31.
Wrytine in his gest als fynd we Befor the king … Cristofore stud c1420 Wynt. i. 8.
Off swylk antyqwyteis … Gest or story for to wryte, Owthir in metyre or in prose c1420 Ib. vi. 277.
Gret gestis ar mad off hys prowes a1500 Henr. Rob. & Makyne 90.
Thow hes hard soung & say, In gestis and storeis auld [etc.] a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow Proh. 14.
Croniculis, gestis, storeis, and mich moir a1500 Ib. ii. 135.
Scho knew … Notable gestis of peas and weiris in storye 1513 Doug. ix. xii. 112.
Creteus, … That in hys mynd and breist all tymys bar Sangis and gestis, musyk and harpyng 1513 Ib. xiii. ix. h.
Rehersand mony histories ald and gestis(b)a1400 Legends of the Saints xix. 57.
A menstrale come before the kinge … & sad a cheste with voice clere(c) 1490 Treasurer's Accounts I. 174.
To Wallasse that tellis the geistis to the King c1420 Wynt. ii. 8 (C).
Geistis and storeis for to wryte c1500-c1512 Dunb. lviii. 4.
Ay is the ouir-word of the geist [: feist, requeist] Giff thame the pelffe to pairt amang thame 1533 Boece ix. viii. 305 b.
The rymes and geistis feneȝeit of Arthure and his knichtis 1513 Doug. xiii. ix. h. (R).
Rehersand mony historyis and auld geist [: feist]
2. Deeds, exploits.1513 Doug. i. xi. 93.
On his gylt harp berdyt Iopas Playand the gestis of the gret Atlas 1513 Ib. viii. v. 22.
To syng In ympnys, ballettis, and lays. The lovabill gestis of mychty Hercules 1531 Bell. Boece I. 287.
I will … declare the remanent geistis of King Eugenius 1533 Boece v. x. 182 b.
Now lat ws returne to the remanent gestis of Donald king of Scottis 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 73.
Thair stowt and notable operationis, gestis [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II. 223/28.
Thn cronikle quhilk he wrote of the geastes and noble actes of our natioune
