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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Han(d)fast, v. P.p.: handfast; handfastit, -ed. [ME. handfast, p.p. -fast, fasted, early ihondfæst p.p. (Laȝamon), hanndfesst p.p. (Orm.), ON. handfesta, p.p. -festr.]

1. tr. To betroth (two persons, or one person with another) by joining of hands. Chiefly in p.p. a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 16.
Scho eftir the custume thane Ves handfast vith a ȝungmane That in maryag vald hire haf tan Ib. xlviii. 4. 1432 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. VIII. 44.
It is accordit at the saidis Jone and Elisabeth sall be handfast, as the oys is, in haly Kirk 1482 Fam. Rose 147.
The saide Lauchlane sal gar … handfast Margret his saide dochter, with the saide Donalde, and ly with him as scho war his lauchfull wiff 1520 Grant Chart 64.
Gif … the said dispensacione cum nocht hayme within the said tyme … the said John the Grant is bundin … to caus thame be handfast and put togiddir … for mariage to be completit Ib. 65. 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. II.
Becaus … many within this toun ar handfast, as thai call it, and maid promeis of mariage a lang space bygane, … , and as yit vill nocht mary and compleit that honorable band, … , but lyis and continewis in manifest fornicatioun [etc.] 1575 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 344.
[If] a man and a woman were … publickly married, or hand fast be the Reader, and thereafter to have mutual cohabitation together … as married folks so reput and holden [etc.] 1635 Elgin Rec. II. 230.
Thomas Carmichell was contracted and handfastit with Marjory Man 1674 Dingwall Kirk S. 327.
Donald Roy and Christine nien William Hasanich handfasted passed mutual promise of marriagefig. Fergusson Expos. Ephes. 389 (J).
Though every believing soul is, when the Father draweth it to Christ, contracted and handfasted to him

b. tr. and absol. Said of the man or woman: To become engaged to marry, to plight one's troth (to). 1498 Fam. Rose 167.
That the said James … sall spovs and haiff to wyff Alyn … , and incontinent at the seilling … of thir indentoris sall … hanfast the said Alyn, as law will 1547 Elgin Rec. I. 92.
That gif it hapins to ony vedov … to mare without lecence of the provest, … the said vedow handfastand or mereand incontinent sche sall tyne hir fredoum [etc.] 15.. Clar. iii. 1875.
My frind, Palexis, ȝe sall Cadar wed, Whom ȝe have handfast 1570 Leslie 70.
Quhilk Erle as commissioner … contractit and handfastit the saide fair lady [Margaret Tudor] at Sanct Pawlis croice

2. intr. To enter into an engagement of service. 1699 St. A. Baxter Bks. 69.
That no master nor member of our said trade shall handfast nor fie with on another in all time comeing