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

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

Quotation dates: 1375-1661

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Hert, n.1 Also: herte. [ME. hert, herte, OE. heorte, ONhn. hearta. Cf. hairt Hart n.1Also Heart. As hert is normally an earlier form than hart, it may be assumed that it is original in the Cambridge MS. of the Brus (although the Edinburgh has regularly hart), and in the few other early texts in which it occurs.]

1. The heart as part of the body.1375 Barb. xx. 191.
On goddis fayis myne hert to bere
1375 Ib. 599.
The Erll of Murreff … has gert bery the kyngis hert at … Melros
c1450-2 Howlat 469.
The hert costlye he couth clos in a cler cace
1456 Hay II. 119/36.
Felloun passioun in thair wame … as gryndingis, brynnyng of herte and ventositeis
1661 Black Sc. Witches 39.
You hett my hert ill one day
attrib. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 224.
A hache is happinit hastely at my hert rut
1607 Criminal Trials II. 536.
I charme the … for elf-schot, for tung-schote, … for hert-schot

b. A representation of a heart; a jewel or trinket in the form of a heart.c1450-2 Howlat 411.
Part of the feld Was siluer set with ane hert … of gowlis
1488 Treasurer's Accounts I. 80.
In the same box, a stomok and on it set a hert all of precious stanis
1488 Ib. 81.
A hert of gold anamelit
1503 Ib. II. 217.

2. The heart regarded as the seat of feeling or of various emotions.Common both in poetry and prose down to the late 16th cent. in a great variety of contexts and phrases.1375 Barb. v. 298.
Douglas in hert gret blithnes had
1375 Ib. xi. 571.
A knycht hardy of hert and hand
1375 Ib. xv. 198.
Thai that saw thair lord slayne Tynt hert
c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1460.
Ageynes Anthenore Eneas Full odyous ine hys hert he was
1456 Hay I. 68/15.
Sum faderis … coud nocht fynd in thair hertis to … chasty thair barnis
1456 Ib. 124/14.
He wald ger him [sc. the king] tyne the hertis of his peple
a1500 Henr. Orph. 128.
His hert ner birst for werray dule & wo
1490 Irland Mir. I. 12/28.
Dreid God, serue him with hert and mynd
c1515 Asloan MS I. 177/15.
It apperis that gredy hert followis gret scaith
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 316.
Neuer bot in a gentill hert is generit ony ruth
1533 Bell. Livy II. 213/33.
Thocht … the sam had analyit thair hertis and myndis fra all respect … to thare awne gudis
1562-3 Winȝet I. 52/31.
Fra the botum of thair hert, as thai vse to speik
a1568 Scott xxv. 28.
My hert, be mirry lait and air
1629 Mure Sonn. ii. 9.
Let Cupid wreck him on my martyred hert
1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 170.
The … counsell, tacking to hert the gret lowsnes and profanitie that is among … all ranks

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