Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Jad, n. Also: jadde, jade. [The Sc. forms corresp. to e.m.E. (1530) and ME. (Chaucer) jade, of obscure origin; north midl. e.m.E. also jawde (once, 1564). The later Sc. dial. forms are jad and (chiefly) jaud, jawd.Perh. the vowel of Sc. jad, jaud may be by contamination with Ȝald, Ȝa(w)d.]

1. A contemptuous name for a horse; A sorry, worthless, wearied or worn-out horse; a nag. 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 37 b.
I think that man had better ridden on a Caronȝe hyrling, When his owne horse proves noght else but a wearied jad 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 140.
The hors … was as great as a coach hors, but the most lasche jadde that ever any man crossedfig. c1620 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 82.
Most servants are both ill and idle too, They're joly praters but are jades to do

2. A term of abuse applied to a woman. 1624 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 47.
[John Warden had called] hir a witche carling and jad witche 1633 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 107.
Now, base jads, Must candle-light be viewd; O! sin-worne plads, With drunkennes and whoredom ?a1648 Polemo-Mid. 56.
Quod si forte ipsa Neberna contra loquatur, In sidis tu pone manus et dicito, fart, jade 1662 Banff Ann. I. 145.
Calling her jad and queyn and offering to strik her with stones 1700 Minnigaff Par. Rec. 36.
John Sloan called Mr James Algeos wife a base jad twice or thrice Ib. 37.
He heard John Slowan call Margret Hamiltoun … mansuorn jad