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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.

Overthort(e, adv., prep. and n. Also: ovir-, owirand -twerd, -thuart. [ME. overthwert (Havelok), -thewrt (Rolle), -thwart (c 1380), -twert (c 1430), e.m.E. overtwart (c 1530), -tharte (1556), f. Over adv. and ME. þwert adv., ON. þvert neuter of þverr a. cross, transverse. Cf. Ourthwort and Overwhort.]

A. adv. 1. Across; in a transverse direction; from one side to the other of something.(a) a1500 K. Hart 291.
All thir … ȝeid ouerthort To clois befoir the dungeoun windo neir 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 284 (E).
This Synon … First into Troy … Sa tratourlike maid him be draw ouirthort [L. ouerwhort](b) 1547 Lennox & Wharton in Cal. Sc. P. I. 19.]
[We caused certane pyoners cutt the walle of the east end of the quere overthuart abone the earthe c 1660 Milne-Home MSS. 221.
They ar … compelled to put ther toues in at … gates puting trees overthuart to ty their toues at 1682 Irvine Nomenclatura 233.
The stones are … placed one to the length and the other overthuart all along

2. In Dalrymple: All over, all about, throughout, everywhere. 1596 Dalr. I. 211/26.
Cheiflie Godis preistes, S. Palladie bischope and vthires … ouirthort [L. sparsim] in his kingdome he promouet thame to steddings [etc.] Ib. II. 429/18.
The hæretikes had casten doune al haly places ouerthort al amaist

B. prep. 1. From one side to the other of, so as to cross, across above or through. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1554.
He … with ane swerd ouirthort the nec him tuke c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 128.
With huidis heklit doun ouirthort thair ene c1552 Id. Mon. 3180.
The Quene ouerthort the flude sche raid On bryggis quhilkis wer of botis maid Ib. 4755.
Thai haif fyscheit in ouerthort the strandis Ane gret part … of all temporall landis Ib. 2903. 1558-66 Knox II. 357.
He was cassen over-thorte a pair of crealles 1572 Irvine Mun. I. 65.
To dame and mak foucies [ed. forcies] of daming owirthort the said Watter of Irving

2. All over, throughout. c 1420 Liber Calchou 450.
The blud that is envennomit sall pas ouertwerd the hart & vennome it 1528 Lynd. Dreme 74.
Ȝit fure I furth, lansing ouirthorte the landis c1552 Id. Mon. 1417.
The fyreflauchtis flew ouerthorte the fellis Ib. 2166.
So thir abhominationis Did spred ouerthort all nationis Ib. 1553, 2207.

C. noun. ? A ‘cross’, a misunderstanding or a difficulty. 1586 James VI in Cal. Sc. P. VIII. 505.
[Notwithstanding the good meaning between himself and his sister the good cause now in treating has been … subject to some] overthortis