A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420-1605, 1674
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Misty,-ie, a. Also: mistye, misté, mysty(e, -ie. [ME. misty, mysty, OE. mistiᵹ.]
1. Misty; clouded by, or consisting of, mist. a1500 Henr. Fab. 866 (Bann.).
Phebus with his bemys Consumit had the mysty cloudis gray a1500 Id. Test. Cress. 18. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxix. 3.
With mystie vapouris, cluddis and skyis 1533 Boece iv. xi. 142b.
Ane catar generit of the cras and thik mysty aire 1533 Ib. xi. iv. 411.
The are was … clowdy & mystye 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 140/5.
Ane mysty mornyng in symmyr 1549 Ib. 59/12. a 1550 Misc. Spald. C. II. xxix.
When lo the nicht with mistie mantles spred Gan dark the day c1552 Lynd. Mon. 155.
Synthea … ouer hir visage kest ane mistye vaill a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 44 (Wr.). 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 206.
The weather being soe mistie
b. Resembling mist, cloudy. 1456 Hay I. 27/25.
Of the quhilk thare come out sik a mysty smoke of hidous reik 1513 Doug. iii. iii. 105.
Apon sik wys oncertanly we went Thre days wilsum throu the mysty streym
c. Covered in mist. 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 123.
Belyve the mysty toppys of Mont Lewcus Apperis
d. In fig. context. — a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 429.
In misty dirknes of warldlie warians
2. fig. a. Obscure, unclear, vague, difficult to understand, puzzling.c1420 Wynt. ii. 319 (C) (see Mistik a. 2). c1420 Ib. vii. 473 (C).
Qwhat signyfyide that mysty worde 1456 Hay I. 245/23.
The lawe sais tha in sik mysty aventuris is lytill remede 1456 Ib. 284/25.
Clos bataill is rycht perilous and mysty to be jugit be ignoraunt men 1481 Acts II. 133/2.
Quhare the law that is made is vnclere & mysty 1482 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 35. 1490 Acts Lords of Council I. 148/1.
A instrument of the remitt of xl merkis quhilk … wes haldin obscure and miste to the lordis of consale a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 676.
Thir twa forsaid [judgements] … Quhilkis ar bot halflang, misty & secret c1515 Asloan MS I. 314/27.
Jhesus fulfillit & declarit all prophesis and misty scriptouris 1531 Bell. Boece I. xlix.
Maister Alexander Galloway … gevand his mind … to serche the verite of thir obscure and misty dowtis 1585–6 Montgomery Mem. 225.
Becaus it [the letter] is sumthing mistie and generall 1596 Dalr. I. 68/17, 18.
With mistie fables … they make mair darke and mistie than thay make cleir
b. Of the mind: Clouded, dim. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 32.
My waverand wyt, my cunnyng febill at all, My mynd mysty
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"Misty adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/misty>
