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.
Smert, Smart(e, adj. [ME and e.m.E. smærte (Layamon), smerte (c1200), smert, smart (Cursor M.), OE smeart.]
1. Of a blow, etc.: Sufficient to cause pain; sharp; harsh. In lit. and fig. contexts.a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii 157.
In a frame [he] stent hyme … with smert cordis sa faste Til senonis ore hyd ma leste a1500 Lanc. 992.
And he, to qwham the presone hath ben smart, With glaid desir apone his cursour start a1500 Quare Jel. 6.
Agayn the stroke of winter cold and smert 1513 Doug. v v 59.
The eddyr … Quham … with smart dynt or stane kast half ded neir 1513 Doug. xii i 15.
Quhen the smert straik in hys breist all fast is, For ire [the lion] the lokkyrris of hys nek vpcastis
2. Of pain, a wound, sorrow, etc.: Painful, sharp, biting, keen.G. Ball. quot. in (b) below may be an example of Smert n.(a) a1497, 15.. Gray MS iv 91.
My woundis herd & smert Of skourgis, nalis, spere and crowne 1513 Doug. iii x 114.
Smert [: aduert] 1513 Doug. vii v 21.
In extasy scho stude, and mad almaist, In suddand dolour smyttin wonder smert 1513 Doug. xi xv 90 (Sm.).
Thai … lappit in thar armys This queyn that funderand was for hir smert harmys 1513 Doug. xiii iv 117.
In that place, Quhilk semyt no thing litill fortobe … The hard dolour and the sorow smert 1513 Doug. Direct. 28.
Oppynnand the gravis of smert iniquyte(b) a1500 K. Hart 320.
Mony previe wound That dois oft sys him strang with stoundis smart 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 71.
The reuthtfull smart [Sm., Ruddim. smert] and lamentabill cace Quhilk thar he writis of Leander ȝyng 1513 Doug. iv x 11.
Thar bissy thocht and curis smart 1513 Doug. xiii i 11.
The Latyn pepyll … hostit owt … Deip from thar breistis the hard sorow smart 1513 Doug. xiii v 115.
The sobbys hard and sychis smart 1513 Doug. ii ii 155, etc. 1567 G. Ball. 168.
With cruell paine and smart, He was peirsit throw the hart a1568 Scott x 13.
I knaw Of luvis law The plesour & the panis smart a1568 Steel in Bann. MS 235a/11.
Smarte
3. Of a person, etc. a. Capable of swift or powerful action, quick, vigorous. b. Skilled, clever. Also const. in.a1400 Leg. S. xxix 98.
Thane chasit a gret hart That fled fast, for he wes smert ?1438 Alex. ii 1777.
He is delyuer stalwart and smart ?1438 Alex. ii 8530.
[He] felled him flatlingis in the feild … bot he was smart And lichtly vpon fute he start ?1438 Alex. ii 4263. c1460 Consail Vys Man 231.
Be blyth and besy, quyk & smert, And lat na langour throw thi hart 1513 Doug. xiii ii 123.
The cristit fowle … tho full smert For hyr pullettis … Affrait gretly … Gan rax hir selfb. 1571 Sempill in Sat. P. xxviii 63.
Smart in my schuitting & singular in my science 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 249.
My lord delighted much in his society, being a great historian and smart schollar
