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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.

Stove, Stofe, Stoif(f, n.¹ Also: stow(e, stoife, stuph, (stovis). [e.m.E. stufe (1533), stoue (?1545), stuph (1547), stouffe (1559), stoove (1579-80), OE stofa (also stuf-bæð), MLG, MDu. stove, ON stofa, stufa, late L. stūfa. Also in the later dial.]

1. A steam-room, a hot air bath; ? a bath or bathroom employing hot water. Also baith stove (= Bathstof n.).(1) 1456 Hay II 142/28, 31.
Off bathis and stuphis and thair governaunce and prouffitis. Here declaris the noble the maneris of baithis and of stovis 1456 Hay II 143/24.
Syk thing sulde be maid in a hate place … and that it had a grete fournas gevand the hete inwarde bot the mouth of it suld be frawart the place of the stove 1497 Treas. Acc. I 340.
[The viij day of Junij] giffin to Will Sinclar for heting of the stovis in Leith at the kingis command a1561 Norvell Meroure 13b.
I have, with my owne pretious blood serene, An holsome bath and stofe prepaird for you 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Balneum, the stoiffis 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Thermae, hait stoiffis [1617 hotte stoves] 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Vaporarium, a hot stofe(b) 1456 Hay II 143/7.
To make wele a bathis or a stovis … men sulde ordane four chaumeris … the first suld be callde, the secound warme, as leuke hate, the thrid hate and the ferde dry(2) 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 648/8.
In the kaner house … ane gryt keyst bandit with irne … ane standing bed … ane baith stoif 1686 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 177.
James Rae his majesties barbar … hes be advice of the phisitians and chirurgeons erected baith stoves upon the north syde of the head of the Cannongate with severall conveniensyes therto belonging and hes furnished the same the lyke wherof wes never erected in this kingdome

2. Heated air or vapours.Only in Doug. Cf. Stew n. 1. Also in the later dial. 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 89.
In this congelit sesson … The callour ayr … Dasyng the blude in euery creatur Maid seik warm stovis and beyn fyris hoyt In dowbill garmont cled … With mychty drink and metis confortyve 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 46.
Mysty vapour vpspryngand … Moich hailsum stovys ourheldand the slak

3. An apparatus for producing heat, also ? for use in cooking. 1599 Acts IV 187/2.
The superfluous spending of coill, wode [etc.] … and vther fewall quhilk is … brocht to ane grit decay … by the excessiue spending and consumptioun thairof for laik of the formes of killis, stowis, and furnissis eftermentionate 1599 Acts IV 187/2.
Ane new inventioun fund out … of ane forme of stoiff … mair profitabill … nor euer … hes bene devysit 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 171/3.
Full many ane time in Vulkane's burning stow The smith does water cast with careful ee 1641 Edinb. Test. LIX 270.
In the work hous … ane irone stove … pottis and furneisis muildis of tyld 1643 Edinb. Test. LX 279b.
Ane warmeing stowe pryce thairof x s. 1690 Foulis Acc. Bk. 121.
To Robert Ronald for taking doune and biging the kitchin chimney and stoife 1693 Foulis Acc. Bk. 158.
To the goodmans man brought out the stoif on the cart

4. A state or situation of great heat. Also in the later dial. 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI (1975) 49.
His cattell … took such a sweiting that they … in the coldest day in winter wer still in such a stove of heat as they had bein in a furnace

5. attrib. With Chimnay n., a chimney for a stove in sense 3 above; Hous n.¹ 2, a building or room containing a stove in sense 1 or 3 above; Pan n.¹ 1, a pan for use on a stove in sense 3 above. 1690 Foulis Acc. Bk. 121.
To Ro^t Ronald for hewing a stone to and biging up the back of the stoif chimney in the high hall at Rav. 1702 Foulis Acc. Bk. 307.
For a stoif chimney without back, tangs, show and poring iron — 1456 Exch. R. V 687.]
[Ad fabricam domus de le stowe castri de Edinburgh 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 341.
Ane band to the dore of the pantrie … plainscheor nailles for closeing up the eist end of the stovehous chalmer … four bandis with ane cruik to the twa dores of the laich kitching 1668 Edinb. Test. LXXIII 204.
Ane brasen fryeng pane ane brasen stofe pane