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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.

Part, Pairt, v. Also: pairte, parte; pert; per. [ME. and e.m.E. parten (a 1225), perten (14th c.), F. partir sunder, divide, sever, depart, also, give birth to, L. partīre, partīrī, divide, distribute, share.] To part, in various senses and applications.

1. tr. To divide (land, also other things, material and non-material) (in, also into, two or more parts or divisions), actually or in thought; to divide up. Also fig.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 371.
The bischope [was] … Partand the landis in paroch sere ?1438 Alex. ii. 9949.
The flum Jordane partit he euin in tua Throw his … prayers c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 3406.
His men he partit into thre battallis 1522 Grant Burgh Schools 54.
Quhare in is the qualite of ane pronowne partit? In twa c1575 Balfour Pract. 625.
And … the skaith and gudis sould be partit in twa halfis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 260.
The vehemencie quhairof pairtit his bodie in twa pairtis — 1479 Acta Conc. I. 32/2.
That the schiref part the said landis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 206. 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 367.(2) 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 5.
The shoar is very well parted all alongst twixt rock and sandfig. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3859.
Quhen swete vmbethinking … partes my hart in tua a1500 Henr. Fab. 1931 (Bann.).
Quhen saull and bodye pairtit ar in twane a1497, 15.. Gray MS. iv. 64.
Quha has partit oure lufe in twane?

2. To divide (something) into shares and distribute it (amang or betwene (betuix), also to, recipients); to give out in shares. Also absol.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 5822.
And ȝe schir suld … part the poune to great and small c1420 Wynt. viii. 2514. ?14.. Ship Laws (A) c. 10.
& the laff is haldin to part betwene thaim 1496 Acta Conc. II. 10.
The saidis gudis … partit and devidit ymangis thame 1500 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 112.
The syd hegis … to be partit betvene thaim 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 153.
To the piparis to part amang thaim … xlij s. 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 260/2. 1519–20 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 55.
And … thai partit the gerst of the quhet betuix thaim 1533 Boece ii. v. 64 b.
Amangis the houndis … suld the bowellis and spuleȝe [sc. of the hart] be partit 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1554. 1583 St. A. Test. II. 8.
His part of the movabill gudis … to be equale partit betuix thame 1593–4 St. A. Kirk S. 781.
The haill proffeit and commodite … to be equalie partit betuix [them](b) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 104.
[He] pertit al the spulye … amang his weirmen(c) 1600 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 382.
Provyding he and the drummar per the Yule vages betuix thame(d) 1568 Edinb. Hammermen I. 6.
Bot sall pairt & distribute the samyn amang his brethren 1594 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxv. 1662 Crim. Trials III. 603.
And we pairted it among two or our coevens(2) 1428 Liber Melros II. 521.
Thai couth pert it no rychtar na hym to hafe the tane halfe and hym the tother [etc.] 14.. Acts I. 338/2.
Gif the comone purs be weil kepyt and evin pertit 1455 Ib. II. 44/2.
That na man gang away with na maner of gudis quhill it be … partyt befor the chiftane a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 812. 1538 Breadalbane Coll. No. 49.
All and hail the half of his gudis … to be partit evinly eftir his deces 1601 Crim. Trials II. 354.
Efter the quhilk he … pairtit the fals gold 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 19/26.
God hes … parted them [His gifts] by a justice distributiue 1620 Edinb. Test. L. 286 b.
The haill rest of his insycht to be equallie pairtit(3) absol. a1578 Pitsc. I. 254/9.
[That] the King of Scottland … wald … lat me and the Frincheman pairt amang ws [etc.]

3. To share (a material or non-material thing) with (another person). Also absol.(1) c1420 Bute MS. fol. 174.
The schip men aucht to parte the skathis wyth the mayster [etc.] 1513 Doug. vi. ii. 89.
As he that was … Partyng with him his immortalite Ib. xi. xv. 126.
Ane of hir damysellis … With quham hir thochtful curys wald scho part 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI. 524.
His awin seruandis … pairtit the said chenye with capitane Forbes suddartis(2) absol. 1488–9 Acta Aud. 122/1.
And gif ther be ony persons that he plesis to call to parte with him [etc.]

b. intr. To part with (losses), to bear a share of (the cost). 1622-6 Bisset II. 244/6.
The maister … aucht nocht to pairt with the loisis bot haif his fraucht as gif the wynis war full

4. To divide physically, to cleave. 15.. Christis K. (Laing MS.) § 18.
With bugers of barnes thay part blew caps 1563 Reg. Privy C. I. 247.
The wallis … ar revin and the volt thairthrow partit neir hand the ane side from the uther

b. intr. To break (up), to split. — ?14.. Ship Laws c. 22 (H).
And it [the ship] happynnis to part and ryve thai saulf thame … the best wyse that thai may

5. To separate (one thing from (fra) another, or two or more things from one another); to put asunder.(1) c1420 Wynt. i. 219.
The yhownge [sc. sheep] he partyde fra the awlde Ib. vi. 1200.
And the myrk nycht [al] suddanly Hym partyd fra hys cumpany 1490 Irland Mir. I. 157/27.
And the saule was neuir partit fra the diuinite 1514-6 St. A. Formulare I. 270.
I dissevir and partis thame fra the kirk of God [etc.](2) a1500 Bernardus 72.
Gulosite … leffys tham nocht quhile dede tham part 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. x. 10.
No chainge sall pairt my loue and me

b. reflex. To separate oneself from (fra) a practice, to give it up. 1492 Myll Spect. 287/27.
Gyf a man fal tharein [adultery] it is mervell … & he part hym thairfra

c. To authorise (a husband and wife) to separate (cf. 8 b below). 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2125 (B).
Gif ȝe haif dispensatioun To pairt me and my wickett wyfe [etc.] Ib. 2168.
To pairt sen ȝe ar baith content I sall pairt ȝow incontinent

d. To be partit (of, fra or from one's spouse), to be separated formally, or ? divorced (see also 8 b, 10 b, and 11 below).Also, to be partit of bed and burd, id.(1) 1563 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 307.
He ansueris that giff he war partit and mayd quit of hyr he is myndit to marie ane other woman Ib.
He confessis that [she] … hes desyrit of hym … to be quit and partit fra hym a1578 Pitsc. II. 301/18.
[In this parliament] the Erle of Argyle was pairted frome his lawfull wyff … aganes the ordour of the kirk 1596 Dalr. II. 173/32.
And the quene culd haue na rest except tha war pairted Ib. 206/8.
The quene how sune tha war parted mariit … Henrie Stuart(2) 1556 Stirling B. Rec. I. 68.
[She] salbe contentit to be partit of bed and burd for all the dayis of thair lyftym

e. To separate by intervention; to form an interval between. — c1420 Wynt. ii. 1367.
Batht thai arthys … Be land partyd or be se — 1458 Liber Aberbr. II. 103.
And swa north to Drumnagub that partis Kenny Lytil and Schangly

6. To bring (a relationship) to an end, by separation or otherwise. b. To settle (a dispute or contention). a1500 Henr. Fab. 578 (Ch.).
My bludie hekill … Hes partit freindschip for euer betwene vs twa a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1138.
Povertie pairtes good companie and is ane enemie to vertewb. 1513 Doug. i. viii. 27.
Gif dowt fallis tharby Be cut or kavill that pled sone partit was 15.. Christis K. 67 (M).
Thai partit thair play thane with ane nevell

7. To take the side of; to side with. 15.. Christis K. 61 (B).
They pairtit hir manly with a nevell 1669 Macfarlane's Geneal. Coll. I. 58.
Alexander Earl of Argyle parted the Baliol

8. intr. Of persons: To go away from each other; to go apart, to separate. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1271.
Bot Bauderans … Come rycht fast in the preis prekand And gart thame part withoutin let a1500 Henr. Orph. 378 (A).
We sall nocht part bot with condicioun a1500 Rauf C. 570.
Thus partit thay twa c1475 Wall. iv. 57. a1540 Freiris Berw. 335 (M).
Bot gif ȝe preif that practik or we part a1568 Scott ii. 197.
They … Syne pairtit at the Potter raw 1591 Crim. Trials I. ii. 246.
Thair homage being made … in kissing of the devillis ers, thay pairtit for that tyme c1650 Spalding II. 463.
So thay pairt, the ane army fra the vther throw mirkness of nicht

b. Of a husband and wife: To separate formally. —1540 Lynd. Sat. 2167 (see 5 c above).

c. Of things: To separate or be separated. — 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 982.
Quhair that our gaittis partit in twa

9. To go away; to depart.a. Of a person: To take one's departure (from a place) (for, to a destination). Also to part away, id. b. Of a quality or habit: To depart from or leave (a person).a. a1400 Leg. S. xlix. 25.
At that wyndou scho set stil … & for nocht vald part away c1420 Bute MS. fol. 174.
The mayster aw nocht to part away befor [etc.] a1540 Freiris Berw. 319 (B). 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II. 149.
[Murray] partith to the court this Twisday 1576 Crim. Trials I. ii. 53.
And within a schort space thai pairtit all away a1578 Pitsc. I. 83/28. 1587 Warrender P. II. 35.
The King of Denmark hafinge partit … for Zutland c1590 Fowler I. 80/85.
Thy spreit sal part but feare 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii. 10.
Hir … smyles quho ever sies Must pairt perforce 1667 Laing MSS. I. 357.
He parts shortly from court … if he be not alredie parted 1694 Seafield Corr. 143.
The king was to part Wednesday lastb. c1460 Consail Vys Man 63.
That quhay-sa-euir be taynt with it [lesing] It smytis sa sare it partis neuir

c. Of a person, also an animal: To part fra (from), to depart from (also out of, of) (a place); to leave or quit (a person or thing).(1) ?1438 Alex. i. 1519. 1471 Acta Aud. 10/1.
Or he part of this tovne c1475 Wall. v. 216.
[Lucifer] partyt fra hewyn to hell 1490 Irland Mir. II. 36/27.
The saule of Jhesu partit fra his body 1598 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 20 July.
His majestie efter denner pairtit fra Falkland 1622-6 Bisset I. 287/18.
The falser of the dome … sall fynd borgh … or he pairt out of courte 1650 Blairs P. 28.
That Montros is pairted from Norauay 1685 Lauder Observes 216.
The Portugall embassador being to part from London did [etc.](2) 1375 Barb. vi. 492.
The hwnd … vald part na vis him fra a1400 Leg. S. xiv. 19.
Bot fra Sancte Paule he partyt nocht(3) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1269.
To pairt fra it [riches] suppose we graine and greit, It sayis fairweill

d. Of leaves: To part furth of reule, to depart from good order, to become disordered. — 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 176.
Tha leiffis remanys onsterit of thar place Ne partis not furth of rewle

e. tr. To leave (a place), to depart from. — 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 31.
For chargeing them to pairt the toun Ib. 115.

10. To part with. a. To give up, relinquish, yield, more or less unwillingly (a material or non-material thing). 1456 Hay II. 57/36.
Syne or thay fast haldand that na gude will part with, bot the nede peny c1475 Wall. iv. 151.
[Wallace] with power partyt merwalusly 1571 J. Maitland Sat. P. xxvii. 61.
And how thai newir pairtitt with thatt pand Quhill [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II. 126/18.
Thairfoir we can not pairt with our principall crowne in that maner

b. To sever the marital relationship with (one's spouse); to be formally separated or divorced from. Cf. 5 d above. 1480 Reg. Great S. 310/1.
Gife it sall happin me … to part with the said James and will nocht marry him agane [etc.] c1515 Asl. MS. I. 204/13.
The King of Fraunce partit with his qwene becaus thai ware of blude 1567 G. Ball. 211.
Ȝe partit with dame Pouertie Tuke Propertie to be ȝour wyfe a1570-86 Maitl. F. xlv. 40.
Parte never in feid fra hame with thy wyf

c. To pairt with barne, child, etc.: To give birth to a premature, or a stillborn, child; to suffer abortion.Also in this sense in the mod. dial.(a) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 236/22.
Qwene Mary partit with barne … xij oulkis befor hir tyme 1531 Bell. Boece I. 100.
Genissa … tuke sic displeseir that scho partit with child 1584 Dysart Rec. 41.
Decessit of twa men childrene sam day born & partit with 1661 Cramond Kirk S. I.
Robert Bowie … hes said to severall that Isbell Bog … hes parted with two children to him 1696 Ib. IV. 15 May.
[She] had been withchilde & had parted with it(b) 1564 Crim. Trials I. i. 456*.
Off the quhilkis straikis scho tuke bed and … pairtit with chyld and swa wes crewalye slane be him in hir wamb 1566 Digest Justiciary Proc. F. 12.
Be the detening & thristing of hir awin persoune in violent maner as said is to pairt withe hir birthe a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS. 240 b/69.
The bludy sicht gart hir pairt with quick chyild 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 3.
And thairwith crewallie and unmercifullie slaying ane man barne in the said Begis wamb quhair with scho pairtit within viii dayis thaireftir a1578 Pitsc. I. 56/13. 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 90.
Marioun Quhyt … to haif pairtit with bairn to Robert Fultoun 1626 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II. 27 Dec.
[She] being accusit as to haue done wrong to hir selff in cawsing hir selff pairt withe bairne sche … grantit efter gryt seiknes sche pairtit withe bairne & na wytherwayis 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 109.
[He] gared his wyff pairt with chyld(c) 1609 Inverness Rec. II. 70.
Efter the said dinging sche pertit with ane deid bairne

d. To let (a person) go; to release. — a1605 Birrel Diary 60.
Bot thai wer not directit to pairt with him, bot to fetch him bak againe

11. To leave or quit one's spouse after being authorised to do so (cf. 5 c above). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 207.
Hed I that plesand prevelege to part quhen me likit [etc.] 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 44.
Wald God I had that liberty That I micht pairt … Withowt the constry law 1540 Id. Sat. 2158 (B).
Cawsis to pairte I haif anew Becaus I get na chalmer glew