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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sleuth-hund, Sl(o)uth-hund, Sleuthound, n. Also: sleutht-, slewth-, sluthe-, slwth-, slooth-, sloith-, slough- and -hunde, -hwnd, -hound, sleuthunde, sl(e)wthound, sleughound, (schluth hownd). [North. e.m.E. sluthe hunde (Cath. Angl.), slugh-hound (1610); Sleuth n.²] A dog used for tracking by scent, a species of bloodhound, a hunting-dog. Also attrib. with dog.In 17th-18th c. Eng. chiefly in refs. to Sc. usage. 1617-21 K. Gesner Historiæ Animalium I App. 13.
[Canis Scoticus furum deprehensor, Scotis uocatus] ane Schluth hownd. [Germanice Schatthund uocari potest](a) 1375 Barb. vi 36.
Thai … slewth-hundis [C. sluth hwnd, H. slooth-hound] with thaim gan ta For thai thocht … To folow him with the hundis a1500 Henr. Fab. 908.
The gay grewhound, the slewthound [Bass., Ch. sleuthound, H. slwthound] furth can slyde, With doggis all diuers and different 1531 Bell. Boece I xlii.
The thrid kind [sc. of dog] is na mair than ony rache; reid hewit or ellis blak with small spraingis of spottis; and ar callit be the peple sleuthoundis. Thir doggis hes sa mervellus wit that thay serche thevis … allanerlie be sent 1531 Bell. Boece I xlii.
He that denyis entres to the sleuthound … sal be haldin participant with the crime and thift committit a1561 Norvell Meroure 6b.
That tyrane … As sleughound tryed their traces to and fro a1570-86 Maitl. F. 194/28.
To find ws it may nocht be Thocht we war with ane sleuthhound socht 1580 Inverness Rec. I 282.
The said William haveand ane dog of the keynd of sleutht hwnd to await on his chalmer and clois for impediment making in the nycht to theiffis 1581 Treas. Acc. MS 76b.
Ane kow that wes chaist and slane be his maiesties sleuthhund 1597 Cal. Sc. P. XII 521.
The said keeper following the duty of his office calls for a sleuthhound and sets him to the [scent] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (Latin) ii 79b.
Canis qui fures persequitur (ane sleuth-hound) 1639 Sc. Ant. III 132.
A dog of marvelous natur called the sleuth-hund(b) 14.. Acts I 108/2.
Thar sal nane lat a sluthe hund passand … to folow theyffis 1596 Dalr. I 7/20.
Throuch thir woddis … the nobilitie hes thair … recreatione in hunting with the sluthe-hundes 1596 Dalr. I 21/23.
Is ȝit another kynde of slwthhundes, laich of stature, bot braid of body(c) 1375 Barb. vii 40.
The slouth-hund [C. sleuth-hund] … na certane gate couth ga 1375 Barb. vii 20 (see Sleuth n.²). 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 73.
Na man sould perturbe or stay ane sleuth-hound 1685 Lauder Observes 204.
Slough or blood hounds … smelled Monmouth out in a dry ditch(d) c1475 Wall. v 135.
For thair sloith hund the graith gait till him ȝeidattrib. 1537 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I liii.
Ane sleuth hund dog 1581–2 Reg. Privy C. III 441.
Quha … haveand a slewthound doig with thame, followit the saidis guidis … hett-red to the said Hobbe Ellottis hous