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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.

Hurd, Hurde, n. Also: hwrd, huird, hord, hoord. [North. ME. hurd (c 1340), ME. hoord (c 1386), hord, OE. hord.] A hoard.

1. A hidden or buried treasure. a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 304.
Tel now quhare the hurdis are c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1918.
In ane ald draw-well Thar was a gret hurde c1420 Wynt. v. 5428.
He fand a hwrde off fyne gold hyde 14.. Acts I. 342/1.
All thai that conselis the Kingis wathe ... or hurdis a1500 Henr. Orph. 536.
To haue distresse on bak … and burde And spare till othir men of gold a hurde 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 199.
Ane Bercla that fand a hwrd a1500 Seven S. 1704.
Hid thingis that the erd ar wndere, Gold hurdis 1501–2 Treas. Acc. II. 136.
To ane man passand to the Abbot of Scone with ane writing of the Kingis for the men that fand the hurd 1531 Bell. Boece I. 195.
As may be previt be sindry auld hurdis and treasouris, found in divers partis of Scotland, with uncouth cunye 1562 Treas. Acc. XI. 179.
[The] findaris of ane hurde in the Commoun of Selkirk to compeir … befoir the Justice a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 8.
He that hes twa huirds [MS. hoords] is able to get the third 1600 Haddington Mem. II. 206.
Least his brother … might intercept the huirde 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Table 65 b.
The fraudfull conceling of ane huird or thresour ? 1614 Melrose P. 138.
Sum golde fund in ane hurdeattrib. 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 372.
To ane man brocht lxx hurd pennyis to the King to see

b. transf. and fig. Something (espec. non-material) treasured as precious; a ‘treasure’. a1400 Leg. S. i. 232.
I ame … Goddis awne wourde, And I am his precious hurde a1500 Henr. Orph. 409.
Hart is on the hurd, and hand is on the sore a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 347.
Of gud consciens the mast precious depois, Of hevinlie hurdis hieast of excellens a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1234.
Syne to the croce a lang ledder thai june, Of that hurde to lows the lokis strang Ib. 1311.
That hevinly hurd [sc. the body of Christ], of God the tabernakill

2. An accumulation or deposit of something. In various phrases, as mak (ane) hurde, and (lay, have, etc.) in, into hurde. Freq. fig. of non-material things.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 134.
Of the riches he has here [to] Mak hurde in hewine c1420 Wynt. vii. 2587.
Thai off thame [sc. the men] made na hurde, Bot in the se kest thame oure burde a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 252.
He … avowit … That he suld nevir study to mak ane hord [of money] c1460 Wisd. Sol. 413.
I maid hurdis of gold and tresore(2) a1500 Colk. Sow 12.
The thrid [penny] he hid in a hurde Ib. 899.
Study nevir … warldis gud in hurd till ley a1500 Seven S. 825.
Gold and siluer in hurd had he That vnes it mycht novmerit be a1500 Prestis of Peblis 207.
Foroutin gold and siluer into hurde, Worth three thousand was his cope burde(3) fig. a1400 Leg. S. v. 42.
[He] prechit furth ay Goddis word, That he had plentuisly in hurd Ib. xiii. 52, etc. Ib. vi. 496.
The sawle … Ma hafe na helpe of Goddis word But it be hyd in-to his hurd(4) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3508.
Hurde of huredome, vpon thé fy! 1573 Sat. P. xli. 40.
Quhen craftie heidis sall na mair hyde The hurde of thair hypocrasie