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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stuf(f, Stufe, n. Also: stuffe, stuft, stwff, stuif(f, stuift, stuife, stif, stouf(e, stouffe, stowfe, stowif, stoofe, stof(f. [ME and e.m.E. stof (Manning), stuffe (14th c.), stuff (Destr. Troy), stuf (Lydgate), stufe (c1440), stoffe (1462), stoufe (c1506), OF estoffe (1241 in Wartburg).]

I. Resources.

1. A body or band of persons, esp. troops, a military force, the garrison of a castle, reinforcements, etc. 1375 Barb. v 258.
Now takis James his wiage Towart Douglas … With twa ȝemen for-owtyn ma. That wes a symple stuff to ta A land or a castell to wyn c1420 Wynt. i 124.
A stwff of angelis blyth and brycht c1420 Wynt. ii 733.
For to pas that ile wytht-in … And wytht thare stuffe it occupy c1420 Wynt. viii 1783.
And come to Berwyk … And layd a sege … The stwff wythin resystens Agayne hym made, and gret deffens c1420 Wynt. viii 4207.
The stwff, that wes off that castelle, … yschyd owt c1475 Wall. vi 693.
The ij captans sone mett thaim at Beggair, With the haill stuff off Roxburch and Berweike c1475 Wall. ix 1478.
The castellis stuff, on to the kyrk … All wschyt owt c1475 Wall. x 321.
Serwyt thai war with gud speris enew; And byschop Beik a stuff till him to be c1475 Wall. x 711.
For falt off stuff we lois our mekill thing, And we wyth hors to pas befor this king We suld mak end off all this lang debait

b. Resources, the furnishing of a castle, etc. in terms of food, equipment and (rarely) people; passing into plenishing or furnishing more generally; the equipment or gear appropriate to anything.Also stuff (of provisioun) of houshald, houshald stuff.There may be some ambiguity with sense 2 below. 1342 Exch. R. I 483.
[Quinque doleorum vini sex celdrarum brasei decem celdrarum salis … ad stoffam castri de Striuelin 1381 Exch. R. III 81.]
Pro duabus pipis vini … pro stuffa castri … pro uno dolio vini … ad eandem stuffam(1) 1375 Barb. xvii 176.
Wittaill thai fand in gret foysoun, And all that fell till stuff of toun That kepyt thai fra destroying c1420 Wynt. ii 1428.
Off yhung falowys thai gat … Ane lychthewyddyd company And set thame hale wpone felony And maid in strayttys thare reset Wytht all the stuff that thai mycht get c1420 Wynt. viii 6504.
To Berwyk come the Wardane syne, And ordanyd men and stuffe thare in 1488 Treas. Acc. I 79.
Be the command of the king thare past to the castell to see the jowalis, siluer money and vthir stuff … thir persounis 1498–9 Reg. Privy S. I 41/1.
A letter of the selling of the Egill … with all stuff, artilȝery and abilȝementis, tow and takill being in hir — 1502 Acta Conc. MS XII 111.
Hewin axis, … sawis, myln pickis & vther stuff of the saide myln 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 274.
For the biggein of ane hous to the said mynd, for charcoill, and utheris expensis maid one werklumez and stuff 1553 Reg. Privy C. I 144.
The said hous … togidder with sic stuff and furnessing as belangis to the keping thairof(b) 1456 Hay II 164/18.
Thy peple and thy barounis, thy bachileris and thy commounis ar the stuf and the multiplicacioun and furnyssing of thy realme 1460 Hay Alex. 2748.
He delt the riches till his lordis hale, Put garisoun and stuf in that castell 1488 Treas. Acc. I 99.
For lokkis to the gardyvyans to twrs west the copburde and odir stuf again Ȝwle to Lythgow c1515 Asl. MS I 265/12.
He send xxviij schippis with armed men & wittalis and vther stuf a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1370 (Asl.).
Of hevyne sa hie the riall regioun Na tung can tell … Thar is perfectioun and flour of all fairenes, Quhar sempillest stuf is gold and precious stane 1506 Treas. Acc. III 341.
In part of payment of tymir and stuf for the gret schip 1506 Liber Aberbr. II 370.
His fischaris to pas … thairto with their stuf and geir sik as ganis tham 1507 Reg. Privy S. I 223/2.
Walter Chepman and Andro Millar … has … takin on thame to furnis and bring hame ane prent with al stuf belangand tharto 1575–6 Reg. Privy C. II 513.
He salbe haldin to furneis all werklumis, materiall, stuf, and utheris necessaris belanging to his wesching, fyning, melting and departing of gold and silver(c) a1586 Lindsay MS 5b.
To … returne … fra thair awin cuntrey with thair apparell or stufe or thingis necessare 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 220.
To the smith … for laying ane kevvell with his awin stufe xvi s.(2) c1475 Wall. ii 18.
With stuff of houshald … he thaim bett c1489 Liber Aberbr. II 263.
Be the office off granytary to be brocht in be the granitar for stuff off prouisione of houshald 1624 Justiciary Cases I 17.
Thift and stouthreif of certane gold, silver, jowellis, household stuff evidentis writtis and vtheris guidis 1652 Edinb. Test. LXVI 74.
My goodes houshold stuff money place and chattells 1665 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 6 Sept.
Abuliȝements of bodie and howshold stuff estimat to ten mark

II. Materials and material goods. Freq. with anaphoric reference.There is considerable ambiguity between the senses.

2. Victuals, foodstuff, also stuf of meit and drink, kitchin stuff. Also (gud and) sufficient stuff with reference to its quality.Wall. iii 220, 223 may belong in sense 3 below or sense 1 b above. 1513 Edinb. B. Rec. I 143, stuf of meit and drink in (2) below, the 1543 quot. in (1)(b) may belong in sense 8 below.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2035.
Sen I am stewart, I wald we had sum stuff, And ȝe ar siluer-seik, … ȝone verray churlische chuff He will not giff vs ane hering off his creill c1475 Wall. iii 220, 223.
Quhen this was doyne to thar dyner thai went Off stuff and wyne that God had to thaim sent. x scor thai wan of hors that cariage bure With flour and wyne als mekill as thai mycht fur And othir stuff that thai off Carleile led c1475 Wall. iii 235.
Thus stuff our land I fynde may nocht weill be; We mon ger bryng our wittaill be the se c1475 Wall. viii 868.
The land waistyt and meit was fer to wyn, Bot that wyst nocht the stuff that was within c1475 Wall. viii 930.
Baith breid and wyne richt gladly furth thai gaiff And othir stuff at thai likit to haiff c1475 Wall. xi 441.
Sotheroun … to thair souper went … fur thai weill off stuff, wyn, aill, and breid 1517 Treas. Acc. V 129.
For werk don be the maister kuk inlykwys in the castell for keping of the kingis stuff xx s. 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 6.
That thai bring thar stuff forsaid, pultre and wyld meit opinlie to sell 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 150.
To by beir, quheit or meill, ry or peis, or geif erles one sic stuff 1615 Chron. Kings 31.
The nobillitie and kirkmen … had … grit plentie of wictall and all stoir of stuff(b) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 18 (H1).
A merchant … gif him failȝeis stuf [Balfour Pract. 621, And gif he has not stuff nor viveris he may tak of the wine or uther merchandice and gudis and sell the samin for viveris] he may sell the schipmennis gud and by him stuffing with 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 7.
Regratouris of fische, eggis, butter, cheis, frute or vther syk stuff 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 9.
That na maner of personis … suld by aittis or hay to sell and regrait … bot allanerlye stabillaris vnder the pane of eschaet of the stuf 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II 41.
That thar be na hukstar … to sell wyld foule, tayme foulis, butter, eggis, cheis, fische, aittis or hay, or ony vther stuf 1543 St. P. Henry VIII V 265.
We moist be sutour unto ȝou for one schip of fourscore toun, or within, to go in France to bring ws home stuf and wynes to our housses(c) 1488 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 56.
That na man … by ony stufe, fishe or fleshe beif mwttoun … fra Pashe to Mydsomer day a1500 Colk. Sow i 50.
Scho … this pur pig stall To furnis a gret feist Withouttin stufe bot this beist 1540 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 49.
Fed capones and uther stufe 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 94.
Al maner of stufe, alsweill horse meit as mennis meit 1594 Innes Sketches 513.
Sick quick stufe as ye haif … and vennesoun and wyld foull as it may be had(d) 1519–20 Stirling B. Rec. I 3.
Na houkstar sall by ony manir of fycht na uder stoufe to tap agane … quhill eftir xj houris, under the pane of eschetin of the stoufe that is coft(2) 1513 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 143.
That all merchandis … contract na maner of merchandice … bot alanerlie the stuf of meit and drink 1703 Foulis Acc. Bk. 327.
The pears aples … colliflour leiks sybaws and all kitchin stuff within the yard(3) 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 523/2.
Sex lastis of hering gude and sufficient stuf 1542 Reg. Privy S. II 728/2. 1549 Banff Ann. I 25.
That the said flyscharis heve ouklie gud and sufficient stuff sik as beyff and movttone 1560 Treas. Acc. XI 33.
Certane broustaris appointit to preif the foirsaid provisioun in ale to be of sufficient stufe 1571 Reg. Episc. Morav. (App.) 409.
40 bolls victuall with the cherraty sufficient stuff

3. a. The substance of bread; the dough and other materials from which it is made; the bread itself. Freq. gud (and sufficient) stuff with reference to its quality. 1458 Perth Guildry 1.
A lafe to conten bakin and dry xxiiii vnce and xxvi paste and that to be of gud stufe 1503 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 136. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxiv 38.
Ane baxstar sayd, ‘I forsaik God And all his werkis … Gif fairar stuff neidis to be;' … Ane fleschour swoir … ‘Nevir fatter flesch saw man’ [etc.] 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I 214.
Bakand fals and rotten stuff, or insufficient to sell 1524 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 74.
That thair [sc. the bakers'] stuff be sene be the balyeis or it be sauld 1525 Stirling B. Rec. I 25.
Thir ar the nemis of the kaikbakstaris to be admittit … to bak kakis and that tha be sufficient stoufe 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 17.
That the lang fage of quheit breid … be guid and sufficient stuf weill bakin and dryit and at thai keip the wecht and pais of the ij d. laif and iiij penny laif of quheit breid of the wecht of Leith 1535 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 71.
At the land breid wey xxxviij vnces the iiij d. laif, guid sufficient and fresche stufe 1549 Aberd. B. Rec. I 269.
Penny breid, that be guid stuf, fresche, veill bouttit and without mixtiour 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 301.
Quheit breid … and bappis … sauld be Williame Patersoun baxter, and a lyk stuff 1611 Inverness Rec. II 84.
That na baxter baick the xii d. leiff of quheit breid of na less vecht nor xvi vnce in the leiff and that it be fyn stif, sufficient fyn stuf, veil backin 1624 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 306.
The quarter caik guid and sufficient stufe for viij d. 1627 St. A. Baxter Bks. 87.
Complaint … be Thomas Munth, bakster, aganis Jamis Broun … for weiting baiking and inputting of burges daugh … befoir the said Thomas his daugh … to the … tinsull of his stuffe 1636 St. A. Baxter Bks. 52.
Forsameikle as the servants and prentisses … hes the whole credit of thair maister's stuff and everie guid and gear … it is statute … gif ony of the said servants and prentisses … skaithes thair maisters … be away taken of thair stuff, moneys or thair guids [etc.]

b. Grain, meal, flour, malt. Freq. gud and sufficient stuff. Also mercat stuff, of marketable quality.There is some overlap in some instances with a above.(1) 1510 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 10.
Halff a chalder of meill and bere of gud stuff siclyk as it gais in the merkit 1520 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 57.
Jhone allegit that it [sc. malt] was nocht sufficant stuff 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 78.
All stuff as quheit, meill, malt, beir 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 91.
All melmen to met thair awin stuff 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 153.
His malt … maid of the saidis Thomas awin propir stuff 1578 St. A. Baxter Bks. 26.
It sall nowyse be leasome to no freeman … to buy any quheat … Bot the same stuff sall be coft be the deacon of this craft 1612 Glasgow B. Rec. I 334.
Steilling of stuff owt of bornis and drawing of cornis owt of stakis 1629 Justiciary Cases I 125.
At the ressaueing of his multour … he … sould haif allanerlie tane ane pek of stuff 1634 (1636) Reg. Great S. 179/2.
Lie peck … lie stuff grindable 1635 Dickson Wr. 94.
He were an evil-skilled husbandman, who should take a whole bing of stuff to be chaff, because there is much chaff in it 1658 Aberd. Council Lett. III 309.
The mouth of the seck maid up with better stuff 1667 Rothesay B. Rec. 131.
With the threttie thrie peck for everie boll of malt grinding and the tuentie ane peck of outland stuff(b) 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 17 April.
Twa bollis twa firlettis victuall gud & sufficient stuffe 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Farrago, a mixture of sundrie stuffs, mashlowe 1597 Dundee B. Laws 49.
The said meall sellars sall present ther haill stuffe ilk mercat day 1606 St. A. Baxter Bks. 70.
To baik … ony cuttit biskett or baikis of thair awin stuffe 1608 St. A. Baxter Bks. 72.
Eat bread … of cleane eat meill onmixit with ony vthir stuffe(c) 1578 Inverness Rec. I 261.
Robert … McHendrik … confessit to haif past wyth four bollis aittis to vther mylnis … bot tuike his malt to the Kingis myln. Richie Brechin confessit to haif had iij firlottis stwff to Kilbean 1631 Monteith Stewartry Ct. (7 Oct.).
The tennentis … sall pay onlie fyve fourtpartis of stwff out of ilk boll of laborit stwff for multure(d) 1524–5 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 220.
The stuf grund fra the saidis myllis … exceptand allanerlie the Kingis stuf 1535 Renfrew Arch. Coll. I 166.
xxv bollis in beir and lij bollis of mele gud and sufficient stuf 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII 359.
Fyve chalderis of beir … of sicklike mesour and stuf as [etc.] c1552 Prot. Bk. Sir A. Gaw 27.
Aucht bollis meyl of rynnyng met markat sufficient stuf 1566 Edinb. B. Deeds 227b.
Aucht scoir twa bollis meill cherateit stuf 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 3.
The grynding of thair stuf(e) 1492 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 62.
The quhilk wes sawld in the last merkat day guid and sufficient stufe 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 306.
Gif ony that ar thirlet to the said mylnis … sall grynd at owt mylnis … the stufe grund owt [etc.](f) 1564 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 8b.
[To] pay … sex bollis … bair gud and sufficient stuiff(g) 1526 Wigtown B. Ct. 181b.
Malt that Nycoll brevyt hyme self vas guid aill & suficient stovf 1533 Wigtown B. Ct. 281a.
For the vrangus spellyn of ix bollis of mald Sov[m]ane his schaid to half a mark euerry boll the said M^cgovn offyrris hym to preif the stouffe sufycent 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. 196a.
Sex peccs beir sufficient stowif(h) 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 385.
Malt and meall brocht from landwart … is verie often fund to be sophisticat, the grund malt being mixed with scheling siedes and the meill with dust and stanes That a warrand be gevin … with power to confiscatt … all sic sort of stoff(2) 1564 Prot. Bk. D. Gray 23.
[To] pay … twa bollis ait meill … gud & sufficient mercat stuf and mett 1565 Reg. Privy S. V i 653/1.
Sex chalderis of meill gude and sufficient stuff marcat stufe 1586–7 Montrose Baillie Ct. 18b (21 Jan.).
Tuenty bollis of wictuall … guid and sufficient market stuff

c. The growing or unthreshed crop of grain, also, the stuff of (apoun) the grund. 1514 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 150.
The … counsale will mak the saidis lands sufficiently closit … and appryse all the stufe apoun the grund 1514 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 151.
The stufe of the grund be apprysit for payment 1516 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 159.
And siclyke of his arable acris, … and ordanis the stuf of the biggit land to be applyit to the commoun walling of the toun 1531 Edinb. Guild Ct. 16 July.
The said William to haif the stuf of the ground to his help for biggin of the said turnpyk 1531 Bell. Boece I lv.
Thair breid wes maid of sic stuf as grew maist esalie on the ground 1574 Murray Early B. Organ. I 219.
For … destruction of cornes [they ordain] that gif ony … bestiall beis fund … on thair stuff [etc.] 1577 Glasgow B. Rec. I 63.
It sall nocht be lefull … to the hirdis to gif vp the keiping of the guddis quhill all the stuff be innit 1596 Dalr. I 6/8.
In all kynde of stuffe [L. frumentum] and cattell it abundes. Nochtwithstandeng amang the mountainis … ates is mekle mair prosperous than quheit 1596 Dalr. I 39/23.
The blak cok … of the herbe called trifolie cheiflie lyues, nathir alluterlie frome the stuffe does sche absteine 1596 Dalr. I 95/7.
Of heipes of corne … breid wil thay make … thay thresche na stuf, bot with fyre thay [etc.]

4. Material or woven fabric of various sorts, sometimes contrasted with Clath(e n., prob. passing into woollen cloth. Also ellipt. and pl.Cf. also Stif(f)ing n. 2, Stif(f v. 1.(1) 1473 Treas. Acc. I 73.
Veluous to purfel a govne to my lady of blac satyne figory, of the kingis awin stufe 1501 Treas. Acc. II 50.
For stuf and making of the samyn [sc. a doublet], v s. 1501 Treas. Acc. II 54.
For … stuf and lynyng to his doublat and hos 1503 Treas. Acc. II 227.
Payit to Julian, factour to Jerome de Friscobald, Limbard, for this stuf under writin, bocht be him in Flandrez, … ermyng … mantilling of the samyn … clath of go[l]d … wellus [etc.] 1506 Treas. Acc. III 266.
For furring of ane pair of buskinnis to the quene, and stuf to the samyn 1536 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 77 (see pl. below). 15.. Sym & Bruder 80.
My coit is of gud stuffe 1566 Peebles B. Rec. I 303.
I John Wilsone dikin of the wobstairis … that quhair your wisdovmis delyuerit vs … wechtis accordin to the wecht of Edinburgh quhilk we ressayuet … and thair is ane pairt of sturburn personis quha will nocht be content to delyuer in thair stuift with the said wecht 1587 Acts III 508/1.
Als sufficient as ony vther siclyk stuff that is maid in … Flanderis Holland or Ingland 1587 Acts III 508/2.
Quhair thay … sell thair maid steikis and peces of stuff … prouiding that thay sall sell na wool nor worsett 1601 Tailor's Acc. Bk. 10b.
For ane naill of stufe to eik ȝour breikis with 1658 R. Moray Lett. 116.
Though the stuff and spinning be often somewhat rapploch c1650-1700 Descr. Zetland 10.
The product of the countrey is mainly fish, oyl, butter, wool, … stuff, stockings, [etc.](2) 15.. Clar. iii 1025.
Stufe of gold and silkis 1614 Laing MSS 139.
Thertie yeardis of flowrit tafetie or sume other bonie sticht stuffe for his dochteris 1632 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B 5.
Ane dowblet of scoittis stufe 1639 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B 39.
To … ȝour doichtter ane govne of peinket coeller stuife 1640 Bk. Carlaverock II 502.
4 stules, and a long cusin, all of blake and white stufe 1671 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 17 June.
One peticoat and wastcoat of black dyced stuff c1680 Bk. Dunvegan I 194.
Lyning stof an ell £2 18 s.(3) 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 313.
To … mak ready to the dressouris and scheirraris all clathe and stuffe 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 25 May.
Two shilling sex pennies for ilk ell of sex elles of stuff aucht shilling for ane ell of plading with ten shilling for sex quarteris of lynningellipt. 1624 Edinb. Test. LII 141.
Tua claith cloikes and ane stuf c1686 Depred. Clan Campbell 104.
2 lyned ryding coats, the one of cloath, the othir stuffpl. 1536 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 77.
Blak veluott satyne dammes and all sorts of blak clayth [etc.] … the prouest … to … chairge all merchants … haifand sic stufe … that na man … raise the pryce of ony of the stuffis foresaidis 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 316.
For making of the claithe and stuffis guid and sufficient to the litting 1604 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 307.
For hamebringing of Flemyngs and utheris for making of braid claithe … and uther stuffis 1619 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 199.
That … ilk man bring with him four … lumes for making of the saidis stuffes … and als ane perfyte culroyer, fuller, friserris [etc.] 1619 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 200.
Thai sall mak thair haill stuffis sufficient breid, lenth and gudenes as thai ar maid in Leydin 1622 Edinb. Test. LI 111.
In his … buthe the claithis stuffis and vtheris following … xx elnes blak bumbasies [etc.] 1625 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. I 159.
By making of societies or manuaries in all the principall burrowis for making of stuffes and other waires 1625 Justiciary Cases I 29.
The measour or elne wand quairuith all clayth and stuffis is or sould be met 1649 Wemyss Chart. 231.
I ordein … all the noue stoufs, is in the kofir … for … Mary 1661 Acts VII 256/1.
Sempeternums castilians perpetuanaes or any other wollen stuffs or cloths 1683 Dundee B. Laws 554.
Dying cloath, stuffs, yearn, … with false and vntrew cullors 1698 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 258.
That he was setting up his work looms for working of fyne damask stuffs

b. attrib. Stof cofine, ? a ‘coffin’ made of cloth, a body-bag. 1610 Tailor's Acc. Bk. 77.
For stenting to stive ȝour stuf cloik nek — iij s. 1637 Edinb. Test. LVIII 65.
Ane sute of minume stuff claithes 1643 Murray Early B. Organ. II 129.
Ane stuf wob and ane lynen wob in the handis of George Cathcart wobster 1669 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 230.
[To pay … for the] stuffe [mortcloth] 1672 Berw. Doc. fol. 1 No. 98.
For a black stowfe cotte and brickis 1682 Dundee B. Laws 450.
That no person quhatsomever sall heaue the use of it [sc. a mort cloth] but upone ane stof cofine 1683 Inv. in Donibristle Mun. (Earl of Moray's MSS) 15 (9-10 May).
Ane bedstood hung with stuff hingings

5. a. Appar. cloth used in making quilting or the quilting itself, ? the cloth containing stuffing or padding; the padding worn under armour. b. Materials used in the manufacture of a garment, ? stiffening (cf. Stif(f)ing n. 2 and Stif(f v. 1.).Some examples may belong in 7 below.a., b. 1473 Treas. Acc. I 15.
Item gevin to James Homyll, for graith to a doublat of red crammacy satin, braid clath, cadas and stuf, x s. 1473 Treas. Acc. I 68.
For a leueray colare … gevin to him … price of the colare, stuf and werkmanschip, xj li. viij s. iiij d. 1474 Treas. Acc. I 24.
To by floting, caddes and vthir stuf to a dowblat of gray chamlote a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 981.
He … Hakkit throw the hard weid, to the hede hynt; Throw the stuf with the straik c1475 Wall. iv 663.
Him straik on his gorgeat off steill … Throu plaitt and stuff 1504–5 Treas. Acc. III 35.
For xij elne cammes to be ane pelat and ane bag of stuff 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 216.
For stuff and werkmenschip of ane collar and fent of minkis to the quenis riding goune

c. Clothing. Also stuf of clathing, wardrob stuf.1508 quot. may belong in 4 above.(1) 1505 Treas. Acc. III 43.
To the quenis maister of wardrob that he gaif to the lathenar for wesching of the quenis stuff at Witsonday 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. I 78.
The litsteris … sall wesche all thar clais at the burne … and that nay litstaris … sall wesche thar stuf in the loche(2) 1499–1500 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 78.
That na servand … tak na maner of stufe of clething … without the … husy … haif knawlege thairof 1503 Treas. Acc. II 225.
For wesching of the quenis wardrob stuf 1506 Treas. Acc. III 338. 1507 Treas. Acc. IV 29.

6. Coin. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 48.
For ij^c ducatis in Spanȝe, to be payit be him in quhat stuf ples the king

7. The materials of which something is made, sometimes contrasted with werkmanschip. Also transf. b. specif. Building materials. Also lang stuf, long pieces of stone suitable for lintels, etc., fre stuf, freestone. 1343 Exch. R. I 528.]
[Pro quatuor ferris equinis et pro stoffa vnius haste pro hastiludiis 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I 65.
For the makin of certane speris and ledin mellis, and vthir stuf pertenyng to the makin of thaim 1493 Acts II 234/2.
That all sic dekynnis sall haue na vther power bot … to examyn the fynace of the stuffe and werk that beis wrocht with the remanent of his craft 1502 Treas. Acc. II 39.
To … ane portwis writing to the king, and to by stuff to the samyn lvj s. 1509 Soc. Ant. LXXXIX 453.
Selland and ventand thare stuf of all sortis to the nichtbouris … howbeit that the said stuf thai make and sellis thare is nowther sufficient in werkmanschip nor stuf [etc.] 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 170.
Stuff … to mak balis of fire for warning of the kingis liegis 1524 Stirling B. Rec. I 19.
In furring of ane goune with new stoufe 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 6.
That thai sell … gud and sufficient stuff baith weyk and tallone and sufficient werkmanschip 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 6.
That … candilmakaris … mak thair candill and that thai sell till our Souerane Lordis legis of gud and sufficient stuff 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II 23.
That na man [sc. bonnet-maker] … be fund with vnsufficient stuf, viz. with wob yarne or vther hew of burges stuff 1535 Treas. Acc. VI 261.
To Richart Hume Inglisman, quhilk suld mak violis to the kingis grace, to by stufe to the samin xx li. 1561 Edinb. B. Deeds 9.
Thrie score stanes of woll guid & sufficient stuft 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 265.
Thay sall sell salt … of sufficient met and stuff 1576 Reg. Privy S. VII 85/1.
Prenting of fals and corrupt money … furnesing of mettall and stuf thairto 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 241.
Two or thrie of the worthiest maisters … shall … see all mens work … if the samyn be sufficient stufe and workmanshiptransf. 1572 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 260.
Certain scrolls, papers and minutes of things, … which, … should serve for stuff and matter … to make a historyb. (1) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 178.
Til hald furth the watter with makyn of perys … for the stuf of the quhilk peris … tha sal haue licens in our brum parkis and for hathir in the mure 1490 Acta Conc. I 149/2.
Dampnage … sustenit … in the dovnefalling of the said baklande and away takin … of the stuff stanys and tymmer of the sammyn 1493 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 338.
Jonhne Rossale, masone, … to hew and wirk … to the stuff and bigyne of the queir and kirk werk 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 153.
And as to the making of scaffalting and wpputting of the said silouris, the said Mychell sall mak the samyn, the saidis dene and cheptour findand the stuffe as efferis thar to, and to the laif of werk 1513 Doug. xi vii 76.
Schippis lat ws beld … Of strang tymmyr and treis Italyane … The stuf lyis all reddy by the strand 1513–14 Dundas Fam. P. lxxiii.
The thesaurar sall pay … sa mekle as will pay the warkmen and stuff to the said bigging 1529 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 11.
To four werkmen … putting furrtht stanis out of the quarell … To [the] … masounis to thair dais wagis dressand the said stuf 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 25.
For v^m duffatis to the theking of the said luge … for xiiii doson of rigginturis … for iiii^c stowbis … To Adame Lame for … thekand the said luge … witht the forsaid stuf 1531 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 56.
All manner of stufe enterit of befor to the reparation of the said castell viz. stannis lyme sand tymmer [etc.] 1535 Stewart 40034.
He foundit hes … ane strang castell of stone Vpoun the hicht thair of ane montane he … With greit laubour … that werk wes wrocht Sic travell wes or that the stufe wes brocht Vp to the hicht 1536 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 193.
To Johne Turnour sledder … ledand stuf fra Salusbery to the werk 1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 258.
For x wolkis wagis awattand upone the werkmen at the caichpule and tailyeand the stuf come thairto 1540 Acts II 374/1.
It salbe lefull … to cast doun the saidis waist landis and with the stuff and stanis therof big ane … wall 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I 177.
Ane granatour to course for all stuf, sic as lym, stanis, tymmer and jrn, takin away fra the brig wark 1567 Crail B. Ct. 30 April.
The … community … to coist the vall and lay stuif till it — 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 79.
To … [the] payntouris for the laying with gold in paynting … and for stuf to the tua lyonis 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 190.(2) 1531–32 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 85.
For tua peis aslar lang stuf for lyntalis 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 90.
Lang stuf vii fute lang for … harthis for chymnais 1535 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 138.
For ii oulkis na fre stuf enterit 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 145.
For v drauchtis lang stuf fra Grantoun

c. fig. The material or substance of which a person is made; the substance of a situation, process, etc. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 232.
The soul being defiled … it man utter sik stuff as it hath, to wit, doubting and stammering 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 229.
How easie it is to the Lord to bring high conceits low. … He seeketh no foreign instrument to do it, but He taketh of the stuffe that is within him, He taketh the matter of sin wherein he was conceived and born 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 239.
To doe this He mistereth not fire nor sword, nor no other stuff, but sik as we have within our self; He is able to make our own fosteris to be our greatest tortures 1596 James VI in Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxviii.
I haue sent this Frenshe man unto you that ye maye conferr uith him I trust ye sall finde maire stuffe in him nor kythis outuardelie 1614 Aberd. Council Lett. I 126.
If matters be not well handlit, thair is stuff aneuch in it to hurt ȝour mortificatioun

8. Something unspecified except contextually, materials or things belonging to the sort indicated in the context, freq. and uthir stuf; also pl. Also const. defining adjective or clause.(1) 1473 Acts II 105/2.
The said silver … is mynging with laye & vther stuife a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 495.
The warliest wane, … And the straitest of stuf 1485 Acta Conc. I *117/1.
Certan stuff of copper 1489 (1527–8) Reg. Great S. 120/1.
Comperit … Alex. Browne [etc.] … masteris of the cowpar craft within the said burgh and presentit … ther … complant … anentis the outlandis folkis that the said masteris complenit apon lauborand and usand ther craft in this toune, passand fra house to house mendand and spilland nychbouris werk and stuf 1494 Treas. Acc. I 252.
For xij stane of irne send to wirk in Dumbertane … to ane cagear, to remane vpone the taking of this stuff 1502 Treas. Acc. II 340.
To Foulartoun the leich to by stuf 1503 Treas. Acc. II 215.
Sewing silk … to be frenȝeis for claithis … cordis for gownis … bedis, sadilles … and all othir thingis … for xij pund of gold to the frenȝeis and stuf abone writin 1504–5 Treas. Acc. II 477.
Ane blud stane and thre unce uthir stuf for the quene for bleding of the nes 1504–5 Treas. Acc. III 130.
To ane man hed his hors dede bringand ane laid of stuf fra Leith to Lochmabane 1505–6 Treas. Acc. III 185. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 117.
To Robert, cutlair, for xij spere hedis, byknyffis, and othir stuft, iij li. viij s. 1518 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 177.
Any claythis or vther siclyke stufe 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 76.
Jhone Persone to reid and paye Androu Braidfut becaus that the said Jhone tuk the stuff fra hym 1529 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 16. 1533 Bell. Livy I 136/12.
With the huge glar and vthir stuff that stak thareto, it made ane ile in the myddis of Tyber 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 145.
That na man hyng ony stuff vithin our tolbutht vawis 1607 Soc. Ant. XI 413.
Instantly that whit stoofe of mercury and luna will deuore vp the gould 1607 Soc. Ant. XI 414.
The variante hewed glass … was so ad intima litted with the stuffe which he made in that same glass 1658 R. Moray Lett. 285 (12 April).
King James loued best … to talk of dirt & turds and such like stuffpl. 1489 Treas. Acc. I 162.
To by lynyngis … and … odir smal stuffis ij li. x s. 1546 Blackfriars Perth 212.
Furnithure or uthiris stuffs(2) 1512–13 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 139.
Gif ony thair vnwitting happinis to bring ony infectit stuf necligentlie 1518 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 297.
At thar be vndir the myll qwel ane hek swa at the muk stuf and ony vtheris thingis cassyn in at the clovs may be keppit thar 1551 Hamilton Cat. 101.
Lykwais all pottingareis quhilk takis silver for evil and rottin stufe and droggaris can nocht be excusit fra committing of thift(3) 1554 Reg. Cupar A. II 113.
We fyndand him sic stuf in the mentyme as wilbe neidful to wse vpoun our expens a1605 Montg. Flyt. 101 (T).
Ane doggis deid thow will die … hung be the heillis For stuff that thow steillis

b. transf. With non-material reference. 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 42.
Thocht ȝe rin rudelie lyke ane restles ram Schutand ȝour bolt … Beleif richt weill it is ane bydand gam Quharefore be war … And speciallie, quhen that the well gois dry, Syne can nocht get agane sic stufe to by a1568 Balnaves in Bann. MS 138b/15.
Thocht ȝe ryd soft cast nocht our oft Ȝour speir in to the reist With stufe uncoft sett vpoun loft Anwch is evin a feist a1568 Balnaves in Bann. MS 139a/66.
Thocht thow suppois haif at thy chois … Keip stuff in pois tyne nocht thy hois a1568 Balnaves in Bann. MS 139a/55.
Thairfoir be war hald thé on far Sic chaif wair for to pryis … It is evill merchandyis Mak thow na vant our oft to hant In places dern thair doun Fra tyme thow want that stuff is skant To borrow in the toun 1666 Laing MSS 349.
This rabell of stuf [sc. news, information] I hop you will look upon it as I intend it

9. Merchandise, wares, finished goods, presented for sale. Also maid stuf.(1) 1509 Soc. Ant. LXXXIX 453-4 (see 7 above). 1513 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 145.
The market place for selling of thair wark and vther stufe 1517 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 171.
Ilk maister of the said craft [sc. candlemakers] to haif ane seruand that sall gang … throw the toun with his creill and stufe to furneis his callands … and that he beir on his creill his maisters mark to ken him and his stufe 1525–6 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 79.
Ony kynd of stuff cumand to the merkat 1526 Stirling B. Rec. I 28.
It sould be lesum to ony nebour … to tak the stoufe fra the saidis ragratouris 1533 Edinb. B. Rec. II 65.
All stuf belanging thare craftis brocht fra landwart … to be sauld 1533 Edinb. B. Rec. II 66 (see (2) below). 1534 Linlithgow B. Ct. 5 Oct.
On the mercat day that na vxstar by stuf quhill ten houris 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4043.
Vpaallandis wyvis for to begyle … And gart thame trow ȝour stuff was guid, Quhen it was rottin 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 201.
That thair be na sic gudis as followis sauld on the said cramis, viz.: … sewin silk, sewin gold, and siluer sayis, … hempt, walx, ais, … Spanye skynnis … and frathinfurth eschete of sic stufe 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V 25.
That na aill tavernis … be oppynet, na merkatt haldin of aill, coillis or ony other stufe 1622-6 Bisset II 200/35.
The Libianis war first merceris and caryaris of stufe as factouris, pedlaris or brokaris dois with ws a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 43.
Barrons should sett pryces upon victualls and wther stuffe wroght be any workman … within the barronies, accordeing to the pryces of the victuall and stuffe that is wrought 16.. Admir. Ct. Form 63.
The watter baillie … takes … sometymes a quantitie of the stuff loaded … for that ships lying(2) 1533 Edinb. B. Rec. II 66.
Ilk dakyr of barkyt leddir and siklyk of ilk stand of maid stuf belangand thare [sc. the cordiners'] craft that beis brocht … to be sauld … , for sersing of the gudnes fynes and warkmanschip of the said stuf