A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Stepmodir, -er, -mother, n. Also: stop- and -yr. [ME and e.m.E. stepmoder (Layamon), stepmother (1387-8), stepmodir (1396-7), stappemodyr (1432-50), OE stéopmódor.] A stepmother. Also proverb.(a) c1420 Wynt. vi 1738.
Dame Em, … that in hyr lyff Hys stepmodyr wes, and Knowtys wyff, The dukys dochtyr off Normandy a1500 Seven S. 1865.
Thai wordis Of his stepmoder that is the saw 1513 Doug. x vii 70.
The quhilk Anchemolus … Defowlyt hys faderis bed incestuusly, And had forlayn hys awyn stepmoder by 1513 Doug. viii v 23. 1531 Bell. Boece I 110.
Now, be treason of my stepmoder, … I am cumin in thy handis a1538 Abell 28b.
He had cumpany of his step modir and marit hir 1535 Stewart 8057.
To pas all alane, Till his step mother for maist traist to ga 1540 Wemyss Chart. 157.
Landis … quhilk … his stepmoder, had, and broukit in coniunct-fee(b) a1538 Abell 18b.
Alexander … [was] lowsit out of presone be his stop modir for dreid of hir life a1538 Abell 22b.
He fled till his stopmothir the queneproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 357.
Better do mothers raid nor stepmothers raid a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 924.
It is for fra my heart my stepmothers grane
