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

Overcast, v. Also: ovir-, owir-. P.t. -kest. P.p. -castin, -cassin. [ME. and e.m.E. overkast(e, -caste, early ME. over-kesten (Ancr. R.), p.t. ME. overkest (Cursor M.), ME. and e.m.E. -cast(e, p.p. ME. and e.m.E. -cast(e (c 1290). Cf. Ourcast.]

1. tr. To look over or through; to read through; to inspect. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8346.
In quhilk volume diuers storeis [I] ouir kest That plesand was ? 1570 Sat. P. xx. 46.
Auld bukis quha will ouer cast [etc.] 1587 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 283.
vj dowbill ruif sparris … to tua workmen to ouircast thame and taik the waill Ib. 280.
Owircast

2. intr. Of the sky: To become overcast, to cloud over. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii. 182.
The lift begouth for to ouercast with shours

3. P.p. a. Fitted over (with something). b. Overblown (with sand). 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 75.
The said scole … sall haue vpoun the south sydwall thairof aucht wyndois ovircastin with pend stanchellis 1603 Buchan Cl. IV. 182.
Both kirk and kirkyaird is ouircassin with the sand