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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.

Mort-kist, n. Also: morth-. [Kist n. 3.] A coffin. 1576 Edinb. Test. IV. 339.
I leve … for ane mort kist xvj s. money 1602 Chron. Perth 68.
Ane common mort kist 1608–9 Ayr B. Acc. 240.
[For painting] the mort kist in the pest tyme 1614 Edinb. Test. XLVIII. 42 b.
The mort kist being haillilie coverit and bandit with irne and standing vpone foure stoupis 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS. 25 Jan.
For Bessye Kinglassies vynning scheit and mort kist 1622 Ib. 5 Nov.
And ar accuseit for making of mort kistis on the saboth dayis 1623–4 Ayr B. Acc. 282. 1630 Glasgow Trades House 146. 1654 Edinb. Test. LXVII. 209 b.
xxiiij mort kistis estimat all to fyftie pund 1672 Glasgow Wrights Acts 15. 1673 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 147.
The exhorbitant pryces takine be the wrights of this burgh for mortkists 1674 Kirkcudbr. Test. 16 May.
Morth kist