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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

On, adv. Also: onn, one. [ME., e.m.E. and OE. on, ME. also onn (Orm).]With verbal nouns and agent nouns, commonly prefixed, as Onbiggar, Onbigging, etc., below; also, less freq., with verbs (see Onput(t, Ontake, Onwait(t).

1. Into or in the position of being above and in contact with, supported by, fixed to, etc., something else, in senses of On prep.See also Lay v.¹ 41 a, Laying vbl. n. 2 (6), Lepe v.¹ 3 b, Lowp v. 2 a and 3, etc., and Onlaying, -lepin(g, etc., below.(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 433.
A Romane … gat on that senghe That Bretownys bare Ib. viii. 4798.
Hys hors till hym thai browcht in hy: Thai wald he had bene on blythly c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 69(A).
Quhill to the rude thai gart Him rax Syne teyit Him on with gret irne tax a1568 Pedder C. 34.
Quhen he gettis on a furrit goun 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII. 21.
For … silk to sew one the pasmentis a1568 Bann. MS. 158 b/89.
His clais ar nocht weill on quhen it is ewin 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 211.
He had mony seruandis, quha … sould aill na thing salang as their hair wes one(2) a1400 Leg. S. x. 155.
For athire [dragon] had a helme one tane Ib. xlviii. 12.
He gert dispoile hir … Of al the clathis scho one had ?1438 Alex. ii. 1595, 6.
With that, his helm he can on lais and syne the scheild he can on brais c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 46 (A).
That crovne on thrung with cruelte 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 102.
On hed the halsum helm of hoip onlace

b. Of striking or beating upon: see also Ding v. 2, Lay v.¹ 41 d–f. a1500 Rauf C. 830.
Thay hewit on in haist c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 195 (Ch. & M.).
The schour of arowis rappit on as rayn 1513 Doug. xi. xiii. 108.
As he besocht for grace … Scho dowblit on hir dyntis

c. In other senses of On prep., as in Cast v. 18 c, Lay v.¹ 41 b, c.

d. To tak on, in various senses: see Tak v.

2. Into action or operation or into a process or state.Of the making of fires, see also Big v. 1 d, Biggar n. 2, Biggin(g n. 2 c, Kendil(l v. 1 a (2), Mak v.¹ 35, and Onbigging etc., below. 1375 Barb. v. 52.
Quhy maid thou on the fyre? a1400 Leg. S. i. 662.
That awfull our … quhen thai The deit of dede suld one pay 1467–8 Ayr B. Ct. fol. 114 a (14 Jan.).
Gif ony man has ony clame to the said tenement that he suld on with in xl dayis nest efter & do for the said tenement that he acht to do a1500 Rauf C. 27.
Ithand wedderis of the eist draif on sa fast 15.. Wyf Awcht. 8 (K).
It came on a foull day for winde & raine 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7538.
Quha can hir quyte sic ane mater on bring? 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46 (see Bring v. 3). a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvi. 30.
Haill on the fukscheit and the blind 1596 Dalr. I. 113/22.
Thay set stoutlie onn, doubteing na danger 1629 Fam. Innes 218.
The parliment goes one heir the tantie off this monthe 1649 Cupar Presb. 136.
No fyres to be set on upon these nights 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 201.
If they faill then they must goe one to doe [etc.] 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 41.
Again speaks on a lyver lad

3. Of movement or direction onward or forward or towards someone or something: Forwards, further.See also Hald v. 9 b for further examples. 1375 Barb. v. 622.
He vald nocht let Bot ay cum on a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 185.
One thai paste & til Petyre anerdit fast 1434 Liber Aberbr. II. 67.
And swa one to the Blynd … Stane … and swa on to the Denheid of Gutheryne c1450-2 Howlat 491.
Wend on as thou was wont 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I. 114.
That for both sall hald als wyd don on of that land has [etc.] 1456 Liber Aberbr. II. 89.
Ande syn passande west one a1500 Henr. Fab. 296 (Bann.).
Thay tareit nocht to wesche as I suppois Bot on to go quha mycht formest win a1500 Seven S. 634.
Ane staitly message than maid was On fra the king till Ypocras 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 18.
The burn on spait … dryvis on swyftly stokkis, treis and stanys 1535 Stewart 7627.
[He] Ane epistill send to king Carataic Rycht suddantlie one with ane messinger

b. With a verb of motion and a following noun-phrase of course, in ambiguity with the prep. 1375 Barb. x. 397.
Thai Held carpand inward on thar way a1500 Henr. III. 123/65.
On full sone he went his wayis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 54.
Grant me, lord, on yone gait graithly to gay c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 416.
Awalk thé sone and pas on thy iornay

c. With ellipsis of the verb of motion. 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 654.
And ay on be the brek of day 1596 Dalr. I. 297/11.
Sche on vpon a suift horse, and sa chaipet

4. Indicating the continuance or prolongation of an action: Onward in time, continuously.Also Hald v. 18 (9) and wait on, Wait v. a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 840.
Thane delfyt thai one with blyth mud ?1438 Alex. ii. 2362.
Now askis on quhat euer ȝow will 1456 Wemyss Chart. 77.
Sex markis wortht of land yerly … to be haldyn of the said Schir Andro [etc.] … blancheferme ay and on quhilest quhill [etc.] a1500 Henr. Orph. 86 (Asl.).
Fra thai war weddit, on fra day to day a1500 Seven S. 817. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 820. 1596 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 620.
To Patrik Andersone kepper off the kirk for the awaiting on vpone the sclaitteris c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis i.
I pray ȝow then tell us one, Jok, such as ye heir 1622 Perth Kirk S. MS. 5 Nov.
Robert Jacksoun baxter … accuseit for baiking on in his baikhous on Sonday 1649 Cupar Presb. 147.
Hit did dwyne on a long tyme