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

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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.

Test, Taist, n.1 [ME and e.m.E. teste (Chaucer), test (a1475), taest (1552), teast (1622), OF test(e, L. testa.]

1. a. A vessel in which to melt metal or refine silver. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 134.
To the pottar of Drumfreis that makis the taist to melt the metall in for gunnis
1645 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 129.
Fyne syluer was fyned with leade as high as could be, and after blowne downe vpon a dry test at the blast without lead, by which meanes the fyne syluer … is better then any ordinary assays

b. A test or test-piece of some sort in the production or processing of silver. 1610 Hilderstoun Silver Mines II 108-110.
For making of ane boull and turning of it to James Achesone to row his taist with—vj s. viij d. Candles to James Achesone quhen he maid his taist for fynning

2. An oath or declaration of conformity to the Episcopal Church, required by an act of 1681 of all holders of municipal or governmental office. Chiefly the Test. 1681 Moray Synod 174.
All persons of publick trust and all ministers, chaplains, schoolmasters and expectants … [are] to tak and subscryve a Test for the security of the Protestant religion
1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 305.
When the business came to the jury, they found that he had … mangled the Test with his explanatory tongue
1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 305.
He being in publick trust, was required to take the Test
1682 S. Leith Rec. 142/1.
The two ministers to speak with Mr. Sinclare schoolmaster anent his taking of the Test
1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 28 Jan.
Fynes John Gibsone … for his … speakeing aganist the Test
1684 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 146.
[152 men] confessed there fault and was greived for the same and intreated for the benefit of the Test
1685 Old Ross-shire I 41.
List of heretors, wadsetters, liferenters and others within the shyre of Ross who did subscribe the Test
1686 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 34.
[John Sharp] did take the oath of allegiance, and the act of parliament, and likewise swore the Test upon his knees
1689 Lanark B. Rec. 230.
At the cross red a declaratione and burnt the Test
1690 Shields Grievances and Sufferings 17.
In the year 1681 the Duke of York … held a parliament … wherein he … presided against all our righteous laws [etc.] … Hereby a foundation was laid for overturning all civil and criminal justice … framing and imposing on all in trust a detestable and self-contradictory test, which turned out of all places of trust any that retained any measure of common honesty

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"Test n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/test_n_1>

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