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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Start, Stert, v. Also: starte, stairt. P.t. and p.p. start(e, stert(e, also (late) startit, -ed. [ME and e.m.E. stert(en (c1240), start(en, ? OE *steortian, ? *stiertan, MHG stertzen, startzen. Cf. OE styrtan (ME and e.m.E. sturten, stirt(en), MLG störten, MDu. storten. Both ultim. f. two ablaut-grades of the Teut. root *stert-.] intr.

1. a. To start on (apon), to mount (a horse) by leaping; to leap on (a person) in attack; to gain (a place) by a leaping movement, to move in such a fashion to (on) a place. 1375 Barb. iii 128.
He … stert be-hynd him on his sted. The king wes then in full gret pres; … And syne him that behynd him was [etc.] 1375 Barb. viii 471.
In gret hy thair hors hint thai, And stert apon thame c1420 Wynt. viii 3788.
All the Inglis cumpany … stert on hym … And magrawe his, thai have hym tane a1540 Freiris Berw. 481 (B).
Vp he start and gat a libberla In to his hand and on the flure he stert, Sumthing effrayit

b. specif. To start on fute ((one's) feit), to leap to one's feet, to get to one's feet with a jump, hastily.(a) ?1438 Alex. i 2660.
On fute he start delyuerly ?1438 Alex. ii 4189. a1500 Sir Eger 157.
Through force of him, and of his steed, He bare me down, and over me yeed. And then on foot I started soon 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1939.
‘Get vp,’ scho said, ‘for schame be na cowart.’ … Than all in anger vpon my feit I start 1513 Doug. ii vi 8.
Affrayit, I glystnyt of sleip, and start on feit 1513 Doug. iv x 96.
Eneas, of this hasty visioun affrayit, Gan start on fut, and fast his feris assayit 1513 Doug. viii iii 32.
Thai worth affrayt … And euery man thai left the burdis in hy, On fut gan starting from the mangeory a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxiii 21.
Vpon my feet incontinent I start, And stagring stood, astonisht with the straik(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 1641.
He … stert on fute and drew his brand ?1438 Alex. ii 8701. a1500 Peblis to Play 115.
Ane vthe[r] stert vpon his feit And said [etc.] 1533 Boece 256.
The king … making to stert on fute, thai bure him agane bakwart to ground

2. To start up, to leap to one's feet, to get up, arise from a seated, fallen, etc. position, to get up from sleep; to react in this fashion esp. to danger or fear.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii 4478.
Quhen Porrus feld his steid was deid, He start up stythly in that steid a1500 Henr. Fab. 2516.
The laif start vp, for thay wer all agast a1500 Rauf C. 281.
Than walkinnit thay baith … The carll start vp sone, And prayit him to abyde 1513 Doug. xi vii 110.
Vp he startis in this ilk thraw With thir wordis Turnus to ourcharge 1513 Doug. xi ix 40.
Na mar he said, but startis [Ruddim. stertis] vp sans faill, And of the cheif palyce ischit furth a1540 Freiris Berw. 481 (B) (see 1 a above). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 929.
May Quhen this fair ladie … Start vp to take the hailsum air 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. ii 175.
Emicuit, leip up, start up a1578 Pitsc. I 45/13.
This earle … behalding this … treassone … start wpe fre the bourd(b) 1375 Barb. vii 271.
He has schort quhile at the mete Syttyn quhen he hard gret stamping Abowt the hows … Thai stert wp the hows for to defende a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 177.
Scho stert vpe & … The barne fra hyre handis can fal ?1438 Alex. ii 8728.
Auld Clarus at the last stert vp on fite c1420 Wynt. iii 366.
Sampson off his slepe wytht that He stert wp [W. wakynnit], and [on] solys gat c1490 Irland Asl. MS 29/14.
& dremand will wakin & stert wp a1540 Freiris Berw. 194 (B).
Freir Johine … stert vp fast, and wald haif bene away a1540 Freiris Berw. 369 (M).
The freyr hes left his studeing And on his feit he stertis vp full sture

b. fig. Of an enterprise, etc.: To begin, start into being. 15.. Wyf Awcht. 82.
Than he beur kendling to the kill Bot scho start all vp in ane low 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 171/20.
Haif we nocht seyn in oure dayes ane bletour stert vp to be ane bischop, … ane pultroun to be ane priour 1596 Dalr. I 71/11.
Quhen that king was deid, and now starte vpe, as the scripture says, another king 1596 Dalr. I 77/14.
Bot now litle and litle thair forces beginning to florishe weiris of new startis vpe 1656 Logie Par. Hist. I 109.
I hope congregatiounall governement hes not startit vpe since Harbirschywe begaine to kyth and start thir articles; and if he ly vnder a dead ministrie the presbytrie ar to judge and not he

3. To start out (of). a. To leap out of (bed); to wake (abruptly) from sleep; to leave off (an action) abruptly. c1420 Wynt. iv 2361.
He than in affray Stert owte off his bed a1500 Lanc. 377.
Out of his slep he stert, Abasit and adred in to his hart c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxi 31.
With that anon did start out of a dance Twa sisteris, callit Confort and Pleasance, And with twa harpis did begin to sing 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1028.
Thay did so ȝoute and ȝell That haistalie I stert out of my dreme

b. Of a material thing: To come out (abruptly or forcefully) of a position, notch, or the like. a1500 Peblis to Play 182.
Be that the bargan wes all playit, The stringis stert out of thair nokkis c1515 Asl. MS I 269/24.
A gwn that brak in the schutting and the wege stert out & slew him c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 339.
Than with ane stew stert out the stoppell of my hals

4. a. Of a horse (and rider): To move, leap into motion, swiftly, in a spirited fashion; also, once, ? in a startled fashion. b. fig.a. ?1438 Alex. ii 2694.
Best of his brether he couth him steir At melle … And gar ane steid start in the feld [F. cheval poursaillir et courre et galopper] a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 19.
Farand on thair stedis, stout men and stabill, Mony sterne our the streit stertis on stray a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 588.
Quhill this querrell be quyt I cover neuer in quert. With wailit wapnis of were, evin on yone wald, On ane sterand steid, that sternly will stert a1500 Lanc. 3064.
Curag can encresing to his hart His curser lap, and gan onon to start; And he the sqwaris haith reqwyrit so That thai with hyme one to the feld wald go — a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 186/74.
His birnis brak with sic ane brattill The sowtaris hors stert with ane rattill And round about did reillb. 1567 G. Ball. 109.
The montanis muifit & ran athort lyke rammis The hills dansit and lychtly lap lyke lambis … Quhat gart ȝow montanis lyke rammis stert & stend? And ȝe hillis lyke lambis loup?

5. To jump (in fright or surprise), to be startled. Also const. abak, bakwart.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 8409.
With that, he [sc. Porrus] girdit throw the meid. Emynedus start [F. tressaut], that hard the steid a1500 Seven S. 1941.
The lord enterit & saw him stand Sa with ane nakit swerd in hand He stettit [? erron. for stert] sumthing and syne couth speire Quhat art thow thus that standis heire a1605 Montg. Flyt. 519 (T).
It skitterit, it squeillit; they startit ilk ane, Quhill the ky in the cuntrie startillit and chaisit, Quhilkis rairing ran rid wood 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 286.
The seer starting, rose to go out of the hous, and being asked, the reason of his hast, told, that the intrant man should die within two dayes(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 435.
The cok start bakwart in ane braid a1500 Henr. Fab. 437.
Ȝe neid not be effraid Nor ȝit for me to start nor fle abak a1540 Freiris Berw. 389 (M).
Sche stert abak as scho war in effray a1540 Freiris Berw. 544 (B).
Freir Robert stert abak & saw Quhair the gudman lay sa woundir law Vpoun the flure

6. To withdraw, move away (fra). Also fig. to withdraw emotionally. 1375 Barb. vi 632 (C).
The twa that saw sa suddanly Thair fallow fall, effrayit var, And stert a litill ouirmair a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 349.
& fra the abbot vtrely Persawit hyr wil, in gret hy Gat on his fete & stert hir fra ?1438 Alex. ii 9523.
Alexander stert fra thame to assailȝe Caneus and his great battailȝefig. a1568 Scott xiii 24.
For, & ȝe start, adew all warldly weill; Will ȝe rewart, my cairis ar compleit

7. To make for, move (swiftly) towards; rush to, till (a goal, freq. a weapon).Also in fig. context.Also, once, const. in for (a weapon).(1) a1500 Peblis to Play 123.
He stert till ane broggit stauf a1500 Peblis to Play 151.
He stert to his greit gray meir, And of he tumblit the creilis c1515 Asl. MS I 240/27.
The king … stert sodanly till him with ane knyf and straik him in at the colere 1513 Doug. ii x 166.
To start [L. feror] to harnes I am compeld agane 1513 Doug. v xiv 102.
Sum to this turn, sum to that, start atanys 1513 Doug. xi xv 88.
Hyr complicis alsammyn in this neyd Start [L. concurrunt] to thar lady 1533 Boece 614b.
Ane Inglis presoner … start to the bridill a1540 Freiris Berw. 548 (B).
He stert to him … And clawcht him vp 1558-66 Knox II 321.
He starte to ane halbart, and ten men war skarse able to hald him 1567 Sat. P. iii 163. a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 151.
The accuser start to him, and pulled the book out of his sleeve a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1690.
Weil quo Will quhen his wife dang him, sche start to a sting and said she sould hang him 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1664) 198.
O how joyfull would my soul be to hear you start to the gate and contend for the crown 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 364. 1640 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 592.(2) 1600–1 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 108/10, 16.
The deponer in the meanetyme start in for his suorde

b. ? An example of 7 above with omission of the object of the preposition or ? to begin to (do something) (cf. 8 d below). 15.. Sym & Bruder 89.
Thay daschit him doun, the dirt ourhaild him, Than start thay to and tird him

8. To move (swiftly), rush in a particular direction, expressed by a modifying adverb or prep. phrase, to come, go, proceed (swiftly) out (of), furth, about, in (to), etc. b. transf. To start in (something), to become (the thing). a1400 Leg. S. viii 17.
A fel dragone, lyk to be wod, Come startand owt al sudanly a1400 Leg. S. l 836.
Come stertand furth Sir Cursates ?1438 Alex. i 1708.
Full sturdely start he out of stale, And smot ane Gretian a1500 Henr. Fab. 569.
This tod … start about and cryit as he wes kend a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 741.
Than stertis out ane sterne knyght, stalwart and stabill; … Schir Hew, hardy and hait a1500 Peblis to Play 51.
Ane ȝoung man stert in to that steid als cant as ony colt 1513 Doug. ii x 1.
Fyrst than the grysly dreid about me start [L. circumstetit] 1513 Doug. v xi 38.
Iris … Amyddis of thame all in gan scho start, Hir godly figur and hir weid laid by 1513 Doug. x viii 34 (Ruddim.).
And sayand thus, amyd the plane furth stertis [L. procedit] 1513 Doug. xiii iv 2.
The Rutilianys onon all in a rowt This ded corps, that slayn lay, start abowt a1540 Freiris Berw. 541 (M).
With that Freyr Robert stert about and saw Quhair that the gudman lay so wounder law — c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 234.
Scho suld not stert for his straik a stray breid of erdb. 1662 Crim. Trials III 607.
Qwhen we goe in the shape of an haire, we say thryse owr; I sall goe intill ane haire [etc.] … And instantlie we start in an hair

c. fig. Of Christ: To leap in betwixt, to mediate. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 320.
Gif Christ Jesus start not in betwixt us and Him [sc. God], it is not possible that our persons … can be acceptable to Him

d. To move or act (swiftly, suddenly, impulsively), without adverbial modification. 1460 Hay Alex. 2531.
The ȝoung ay ar rycht rasche and suddan stert a1500 Lanc. 1093.
The spere is went; with that anon he start, And out o suerd in to his hond he tais 1685 Lauder Observes 147.
Our King … lay sencelesse … and couping glasses applyed to his head, he started, but relapsed again

9. Of a thing (material or non-material). a. fig. Of the heart: To leap, jump, in the expression of feelings or to achieve a purpose. b. Of the hair: To stand on end. See also Widdersyns adv. for further examples. c. Of a ship: To rise up on a wave. d. Of a feeling: To spring up, arise; rush. e. Of a quality: To pass by, move or go away.a. a1568 Scott ix 7.
Ȝour scedull … is so full of hairtis, That myne within my bosum stairtis, Quhen I behald [etc.] a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 263 (W).
My hairt ay did start ay The fiery flames to flie, Aye houping, throwe louping, To win to libertieb. 1513 Doug. ii xii 26.
Abasyt I wolx, and widdyrsyns start my hayr [L. steteruntque comae]c. 1375 Barb. iii 709.
Off schippys for quhilum … sum wald slyd fra heycht to law … Syne on the waw stert sodanlyd. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 538.
Quhen Cresseid vnderstude that it was he Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stound Throwout hir harte. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 240.
My sone set nevir thy harte To mak an hurd suffering honour by starte

10. To begin (to do something). Also reflex. b. tr. To initiate, bring (something) about.The Knox quot. may belong in 8 d above. 1570 Sempill in Sat. P. xii 193.
Quhen all is done thay start ouer sone To boist and not the better 1558-66 Knox I 199.
Johne Knox, hearing the answer, starte and said [etc.] a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1381.
Start afore and had aforereflex. 15.. Dum Wyf 92.
Quha may latter ane wyfe to clatter Syne na man can convert hir, The mimest wyff that euer tuik lyff Will ware sum wordis and start hirb. 1656 Logie Par. Hist. I 109 (see 2 b above). 1674 Douglas Corr. 274.
And for that clause in his first contract of mariadge, it was never heard of by anie dureing all the dayes of his lifetime but was started by som for the Marques entrest

11. tr. To startle; disturb. 1456 Hay I 256/19.
Quhen a man or beste is sudaynly stert, thair naturale inclinacioun gevis thame of thair complexioun to a brethe 1543–4 Reg. Privy S. III 96/2.
Ane theiff … start undir silence of nycht amangis the said Thomas awne gudis ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 67.
The fowls hes few to start thame except deiris