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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Sted(e, Steid, n.² Also: steide, steyd, stead, (steed). [ME and e.m.E. stede (c1175), steede (Prompt. Parv.), OE stéda wk. masc., a stud-horse, stallion, cf. Stud(e n. Cf. ON stedda mare.] A great horse or war-horse, esp. as used in battle or ceremonial, a horse exhibiting spirit, courage, etc. b. A horse in general use. Also proverb. Cf. Stud(e n.Chiefly in poetry.(a) 1375 Barb. iii 111.
Ane narow place, … That wes sa strait … That he mycht nocht weill turn his sted 1375 Barb. xii 549.
Thar fayis … on stedis … Come prikand as thai wald our-rid the erle and all his cumpany 1375 Barb. xvi 579.
He raid apon a stalward steid ?1438 Alex. ii 5384.
(Sa God me rede!) [F. Par foy] It is full hard to win that stede! And gif that ȝe that hors may win [etc.] c1420 Wynt. vii 695.
His cumly sted off Araby 1460 Hay Alex. 2601.
Thai send … Fyve hundreth stedis of Calabrie and Pouvie a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 18.
Farand on thair stedis, stout men and stabill 1513 Doug. iii viii 68.
Weil kend is, Horssis ar dressit for the bargane … Weir and debait thir stedis signyfyis Bot sen the sammyn four futtit bestis … Beyn oft vsyt … To draw the cart … It is gude hope pace follow sal 1513 Doug. v x 18.
The childir … Enterit … On stedis pransand(b) 1375 Barb. viii 84.
The guid steid … He lansit furth ?1438 Alex. i 795.
Emynedvs … saw ane knycht … Array him on ane ryall steid ?1438 Alex. ii 1633.
Marciane … hit him, that throw strenth of steid His mekill speir in splendris ȝeid ?1438 Alex. ii 2939.
Steidis and fare palfrayes, Runseis, coursouris and haiknayes ?1438 Alex. ii 3435.
My steid is weill steirand Staluart and swyft and weill at hand ?1438 Alex. ii 6299.
His steid of price 1460 Hay Alex. 1883.
Busefall his steid a1500 Henr. Fab. 898.
The iolie ionet, and the gentill steid, The asse, the mule, the hors of euerilk kynd a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 209.
This goldin cart … Four ȝokkit steidis full different of hew … throw the spheiris drew 1513 Doug. iv iv 10.
Hyr fers steyd … Rungeand the fomy goldyn byt 1513 Doug. v x 46.
Julus … Come … montyt on a Sydon steyd 1513 Doug. ix ii 37.
Apon a sterand steid of Trace he sat, Of cullour dapill gray and wail fat 1513 Doug. x xiv 89.
O moist forcy steid, my lovyt foill 1513 Doug. x xiv 102. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 408.
Ane greit otter … drew me backwart fra my steid 15.. Clar. v 2027.
Knightis beine out of thair sadillis thrift The grit steidis togidder gois with gronis 15.. Clar. v 2186.
Knightis … With scheild and lance enarmit upon steid And justit all the day 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9540. 1572 Sat. P. xxxii 68.
We commounis … may lament … Our steidis are stowne, our cattell reft 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 4.
With sound of trumpet mak ȝour steids to steir c1590 J. Stewart 27/446.
Ane loftie bang The steide presents vith his tuo heils behind(c) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 397 (Wr.).
Vntimous spurring spilles the stead(d) a1500 Sir Eger 2249.
Steedsproverb. a1500 K. Hart 613.
The steid is stollin steik the dure lat se Quhat may avale God wait the stall is tume 1570 Sat. P. xxii 28.
Ouir lait it is the stabill dure to steik, Quhen sturdie steid is stollin and far to seik a1585 Maitl. Q. 243/6.
Quhairfoir the proverb auld I put in vre Quhen stead is stollin then steik the stable dure a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 177 (L).
To lait the stable duir I steik, Quhan as the steid is stowin

c. Appar. merely further examples, esp. in the case of the first example, of the main sense above, but perhaps a stallion, an entire horse. Also attrib. with hors and staig. 1513 Doug. vii iv 206.
A ryal chair … he sent With twa stern stedis tharin ȝok … Of the ilke stok … sprungyn … Quhilk Circes … Be a quent way from hir awin fader staw, Makand his stedis byleip meris onknawattrib. c1420 Wynt. i 1030.
On the ta syde off that flwde The stede hors gayis in pastur gude; On the tothir half, … The merys ar wyth in thare sycht 1575 Edinb. Test. III 255b.
Tua meris ane foill ane fillie & ane steid staig estimat all haill to [£24, 13 s. 4 d.]