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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Witson, attrib. Also: witsone, wytson, vitson, vytson, witsoun, wittsune, whitson, votson, vytsond. [ME and e.m.E. witsonen (1297), wytson (1533), witteson (1551-2), whitson (1597), whitsund (1698), only in combs. Cf. ON hvítasunna Whitsunday, hvítasunnuvika Whitsun week, hvítasunnuaptann Whitsun eve.] Pertaining to Whitsunday or Whitsuntide. Cf. Witsonday n. 3. a. Witsone owke (woik), the week beginning on Whit Sunday. b. Witsonevin, Whitsun eve. c. Witson Monunday or Tysday, Whit Monday or Tuesday. Cf. Quhitsonday n. 3. Vytson Veddyinsday, see Witsonday n. 2 note, the Wednesday of Whit week. d. Vitson merkat, ? the Whitsun fair held annually in Antwerp.a. a1400 Leg. S. xl 734.
The quhilk fertir men beris ay Of Witsone owke the Twysday, Vith festiuale processione 1428 Liber Melros 521.
The said Weddnysday in Witson woik 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 181.
And als layd furtht in the ferd day in Wytsonowk eftir the form … of act of parliament 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 88.
Upone Sanct Bernaby day in Vytsond ouk 1539 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 206.
To comper one Vodnisday in Vitsonoukb. 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 26.
To pay … fourten pundis … apone Witsonevin … eftyr the makyn of this ak 1536 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 318.
The said George sall werk all festual ewinnis … except Ȝule ewyn, Pasch ewyn, Witsoun ewyn, and the Assumpcione ewen of Our Lady 1620 Reg. Great S. 26/1.
Die Sabbati ante festum Pentescostes lie Witson-evin(b) 1563 Edinb. Hammermen MS 218.
Item gevin on Votson evin for ane instrument betwix vs & my lord Reven iiij d.c. (1) 1538 Lynd. Justing 1.
In Sanctandrois on Witsoun Monnunday, Twa campionis thare manheid did assay 1595 Irvine Mun. II 37.
Witsonmonunday 1687 Irvine Mun. II 315.
Upon Wittsune Munday(2) 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 271.
On Witsonetysday cum see our play, I prey ȝow: That samyne day is the sevint day of June 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I 14.
The casualiteis of the mercat … is sett to Robert Millare meleman quhill Witsonetysday nixtocum 1590 Glasgow B. Rec. I 152.
That vpoun Witsontwyisday yeirlie … they sall all convene … and thair rope all thingis 1590 Glasgow B. Rec. III 534.
In the court haldin at the buttis of the Greneheid on Witsountwysday the customes and casualities of the brig ar ropit(b) 1606 R. Brown Paisley I 216.
The whole burgesses and freemen of this burgh prepare themselves in their armour in their best arraye, to make their musters on Whitson Tuesday 1632 Prognostication.
Whitson-Tuesday, called Pardon day, in the Chanrie of Rosse(3) 1549 Compl. 168/10.
To put there nychtbours furtht of ther steding and takkis on Vytson Veddyinsday or ellis to leyd auaye ane pure manis teynd in heruystd. 1495 Halyb. 108.
At the Vitson merkat affor send hym 150 ell canvas 1497–8 Halyb. 142.
Sald to the said Petir Van Artryk a sek of my awyn woyll for 27 mark … to pay at Vitson markat