Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Ithand, Ythand, adj. Also: ithande, ythen, itchand. [North. ME. Iþen, -in (Cursor M.), ON. iðinn. Cf. Idand.]

1. Of persons and their actions: Assiduous, diligent, persistent; busy, energetic.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 204.
Denote als in oracione, & ful ithand in lessone a1500 K. Hart 34.
Thir war the inwarde ythand seruitouris Quhilk gouernouris war vnto this nobill king 1513 Doug. iv. vii. 77.
[They] weltis down in woddis gret mastis, and na thing sparis, … so ithand thai war fair bown 1533 Bell. Livy II. 214/17.
The batall of Veanis … nedis … ane ythand … garnisoun 1607 Inverness Rec. II. 57.
Ane itchand drunckert(2) 1375 Barb. III. 285.
Men may se be his ythen will … That [etc.] a1500 Henr. Orph 545 (A).
Thair … ythand thochtis, and thair besynes to gadder gold c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvvi. 115 (B).
Thir birdis … Singand of luif … Quhois ythand pleid in to my thocht is grene Id. lxxiii. 12 (M).
Anone cummis the nicht Quhilk dois thé follow with ane ythand chaise 1513 Doug. iv. vii. 90.
Euery rod and went Wolx of thair ithand wark hait 1532 Reg. Privy S. II. 190/1.
[He] sustenis divers infirmiteis … cumin of cauld throw his ythand and deligent lawbouris maid in our service 1531 Bell. Boece I. 13.
The Scottis … war daily … with bow and arrowis, in ithand exercition 1570 Sat. P. xix. 90.
Hudge is ȝour faes … , With ithand trystis contractand vp new bandis To bring ȝow to schame 1570 Mar & Kellie MSS. 24.
My travellis continewis ythand in the cause of England

2. Constant, uninterrupted, continual, continuous.(1) c1420 Wynt. i. 1407.
Sex moneth off wyntyre ay Wytht-in that yle is ythand nycht, Wytht-owtyn ony dayis lycht Ib. v. 5372.
In hys tyme gret raynis fell Wytht thyk ythand schowrys a1500 Rauf C. 27.
Ithand wedderis of the eist draif on sa fast 1513 Doug. xiii. viii. 201.
Quhen the gret ithand weit or rayn, From the clowdis furth ȝet … Haldis the husbandis ydill aganys thar will 1533 Boece xi. iv. 411 b.
The are was … mystye, with ithand wynd and fyreflanchtis(2) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 28.
Thir pepill … war devidit in two opiniouns, betuix quhom was ithand battallis Ib. II. 229.
Followit sa ithand incursionis, heirschippis, and slauchter Ib. (1821) I. 320.
Than, for laik of justice, sall be ithand slauchteris 1533 Boece iii. viii. 103 b.
Thareeftir followit frequent and ythand barganis