A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1552-1690
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Middest, Midst, n.1 Also: middist, midest, myddest, -ist, meidest. [e.m.E. and late ME. myddest (a 1400–50), middest, midst (1570–6), alteration of Middis n.1 (perh. apprehended as a superl. of Mid a.).] The middle a. of a place or thing, b. of a group of people, c. of a period of time, something having duration, etc. Variously const. = Middis n.1a. (1) 1552 Protocol Book of R. Lumsdane 20.
Ane karne … in the myddist of ane watter straip 1617 Scottish Notes and Queries i Ser. II. 118.
In the middest and hart of the towne 1644 Douglas Corr. 254.
The best [fire] … was in the hall which I put ȝour lettre in the meidest thairof(2) 1558-66 Knox I. 175.
Thei address thame to the myddest of the close 1590 Criminal Trials I. ii. 212. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 143.
Thow … tuik out thrie grippis out of the middist of the said schulder 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 170.
The water … standis on the middest of the calsey 1630 Kirkcaldy Presb. 17. 1644 Glasgow Chart. II. 624.
The compleiners bairnes ar forced to lowp over at the midst of the said stair 1670 Dunkeld Presb. I. 380. 1690 Swintons App. ccix.
Till it come to the midest of the yeard dyck(3) 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 8 a.
Tak till it the middist of fel Syne lwik quhat it will spell(4) 1608 Perth Hammermen xxxviii.
[A chain-belt with a] rois in the midstb. 1558 Knox First Blast (Arb.) 12.
A woman … in parliament amongest the middest of men 1558-66 Id. Wks. II. 134.
That we mycht praise Thee in the myddest of this most obstinat … generatiounc. 1563 Ferg. Tracts 29.
The beginning, the middest, and the end of our saluation 1567 Acts (1597) 3 b.
Even in the middest of His anguish 1570 Leslie 236.
Aboute the middest of October 1622-6 Bisset II. 255/3.
Frome the middist of September to the middist of Merche 1653 Lamont Diary 58.
Before the middest of the month
