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.
Smolt, n. Also: smo(a)t, smout, smelt, smilt. [e.m.E. smowt(e (1533-4), smelt (north. dial., a1633), also in the later dial., ? f. as Smelt n.] A young salmon, a salmon at the stage in its growth when it first returns to the sea. Also attrib.(a) 14.. Acts I 109/2.
In watteris … quhar the ȝong salmondis or smoltis or fry of othir maner of fysch … cumis … cruiffis … sal be at the lest of mesour of tua inch in the lenth and thre inch in the breid sa that na fry … be lettyt ascendand na descendand 14.. Acts I 334/2.
At thai tak smoltis in the myll stank again the inhibicioun of law 1510 Reg. Great S. 730/1.
Cum piscationibus, exceptis salmonibus, le keppir, et smoltis 1550 Reg. Great S. 100/2.
Reservatis regine piscatione salmonum, lie grissillis et lie smoltis 1566 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 746.
Personas … que integros pisces lie smoltis … occidunt 1579 Acts III 147/1.
All … that distroyis the smoltis and fry of salmond in myln dammis 1595 Aberd. B. Rec. II 112.
For haulding of justice courtis vpon … distroyeris of smoltis 1607 Reg. Great S. 702/2.
Lie kipper, … lie smoltis, fynnakis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 138b.
Smoltes sould not be taken … fra the middes of Apryle, to the Nativitie of Sanct John the Baptist 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 151.
They [sc. millers] take the fry, or smolts of salmon, in the myln dame … contrair the ordinance of the law 1623 Breadalbane Doc. MS No. 456.
Sir George Hay … heretable keiper of the water of Tay … searcher … of … slayeris of salmond, kipper and smoltis with nettis [etc.] 1698 Stirling B. Rec. II 343.
Payd to the drummer for a bank against fishing of smolts(b) 1469 Acts II 96/2.
All myllaris that slais smotis … salbe punyst 1687 Peebles B. Rec. II 119.
Andrew Ewmond … accused for killing of smoats in forbidden tyme(c) 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. II 415.
Discharging of all killing of salmound fry or smouts 1699 Urie Baron Ct. 110.
Amerciats … in the soume of ten pounds the peece for killing of salmon and smoutis 1706 Corshill Baron Ct. 214.
Killing of salmond smouts … in prohibit seasone(d) 1678 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS (11 Dec.).
Killing or resetting of rid fish and smeltsattrib. 1457 Acts II 51/2.
That na man in smolt tyme set veschellis, crelys, weris or ony vther ingyne to lat the smoltis to pas to the see
