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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.

Ȝit, Yit, Ȝet, Yet, adv. and conj. Also: ȝhit, yhit, ȝitt, yitt, ȝite, ȝhet, yhet, ȝett, y(h)ett, ȝete, yhete, ȝeit(t, y(h)eit, ȝeyt, yheyt(e, ȝeat, yeat. [ME and e.m.E. ȝit, ȝet (both c1175), ȝite (Layamon), yete, yeitt (both Cursor M.), yet (Chaucer), yit (Gower), yett (Tindale), OE ᵹíet, ᵹyt, ᵹit.]

A. adv.I. 1. In addition; moreover, besides. Freq., qualifying a numeral, = more, another. a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 138.
Disciplis ȝet had he may Forowtin thir, sewinty and twa c1420 Wynt. vii 2822.
A thowsand twa hundyr and thretty gane, And to tha yhit reknyt ane … Kyng Alysandre in Elgyne Held his Yhule 1456 Hay I 87/28.
The resoun is quhy, for be the lawis [etc.] … Alssua ane othir ȝit resoun is [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 33.
God gaif thame up into thair hartis lust … God gaif thame up into schameful lustis. And yit againe: and as thai regardit nocht to ken God [etc.] 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 171/4.
I will speir ȝit ane questioun at ȝou 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I 146.
Now yeit ane miracle

b. Lending emphasis to a comparative: Even (ma, les, etc.). Also, once, emphasising a superlative: The very (mast), (mast) of all.(1) a1400 Leg. S. l 209.
Mekill les ȝeit suld men trew A brokill woman as is thu ?1438 Alex. i 3008.
He askit quhen he horssit was Ane speir, for ȝit wald he mare chais c1420 Wynt. iv 281.
A hundyre yhattis off irne … And ma yhit mycht rekynyd be c1475 Wall. x 1063.
Off King Eduuard ȝeit mar furth will I meill 1567 Sat. P. vi 112.
Thairfoir ye fand thame prickis vnto your ene, And gif ye spair thame, yit sall find thame moir a1585 Polwart Flyt. 707 (T).
I compt sik kynred better ȝit nor thyne c1590 Fowler I 149/11.
Her blushing yet decores her beautye maire(2) c1420 Wynt. iii 1044.
This kyng mony sonnys had, Off ane off tha yhit mast he made

c. Na, ne, nor, næthir ȝit, and also not. Or (ather) ȝit, or else, or even. Ȝit … nocht (nane), not even. Ȝit agane, still once more.(1) 1375 Barb. i 106.
Durst nane of Walis in bataill ride Na yhet fra ewyn fell abyd Castell or wallyt toune within a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 250.
Ȝe ma nocht … Helpe ȝoure-self na ȝet me a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 422.
That he [sc. John the Baptist] wes Criste he nyt planly Na ȝete na profet, na hely c1420 Ratis R. 585.
Hop nocht to have … Ane-vthir manis … wyf, his gud na ȝit his land ?14.. Ship Laws c. 3 (H2).
The maistir is nocht haldin to lene thame na ȝit to geif thame ocht 1439 Inchaffray Chart. 137.
That Mek Makky the spouse of Johnne Quhyte na ȝete nane in hir name salmak clame — c1400 Troy-bk. i 108.
Ne to do wrang ne wiolence, Ne yhit to do the peple offence — a1500 Henr. Fab. 86.
Thy grit vertew nor ȝit thy cullour cleir I may nouther extoll nor magnify 1489 (1528) Reg. Great S. 120/1.
Outlandis folkis … hafand nether stob nor stake within this towne, nor yet walkis nor wardis c1500 Harl. MS 4700 151a.
The schip men aw nocht to beir out of the schip ony kiching nor ȝit drink 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 255.
The said Johne Kellok wes noucht the lardis … tennent nore his kynnisman nore ȝhit he tuke na feall of him 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5318.
Thai … gart me trow … Ane thousand millioun of reid gold suld be found And not hurting the towre nor ȝit image 1563 Dunferm. Ann. 212.
Ȝeat a1578 Pitsc. II 71/13.
I haue … red ower the bybill and ȝeit sic ane terme fand I never nor ȝeit in ony place of the scriptour applyabill heirinto 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 47/8.
Ye man nather laye the safetie of youre conscience upon the credit of youre awin conceatis, nor yett of other mennis humouris 1610 J. Maitland in Misc. Hist. Soc. II 166.
Abot of Londores he never wes, nor ȝit president of the session, mekle les of the privie councell — 1622-6 Bisset II 266/30.
Næthir ȝit to pak nor peill in na places outwith his majesties burrowes(2) 1375 Barb. iii 289.
Quha tais purpos sekyrly And folowis it syne ententily For-owt fayntice, or yheit faynding a1400 Leg. S. iii 840.
Quhen ony man is in to dred Ore ȝet of hele ore helpe has ned a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 658.
Thing that suld deuocione Inbryng or ȝet contricione 1384–5 Acts I 350/1.
Of thame that has gevin red or counsale or ȝhit persewit to tak ony of the kingis castellis 1452 (1453) Reg. Great S. 131/1.
All my tenandis, indwellaris or yit inhabitantis of … my landis a1500 Henr. Fab. 41.
Gif ȝe find ocht that throw my negligence Be deminute or ȝit superfluous, Correct it a1500 Henr. Fab. 1575.
This mychtie gay lyoun May signifie ane prince or empriour … or ȝit ane king with croun a1500 Henr. Fab. 1786.
The samin birdis … I hoip because it wes thair hanting place, Mair off succour or ȝit mair solitair … lychtit doun 1475 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 232.
Gif ony prentis of quhatsumeuir of the saidis craftismen, or yit his feit man, pasis away 1482 Reg. Morton II 244.
Corne catell nolt schepe … inseicht & outseicht or ȝhit movable guddis quhatsumeuer a1578 Pitsc. I 14/25.
Na man … ether to call and withdraw the leiwe [sc. to court] or ȝet gif that he was callit that he obey nocht 1603 Reg. Great S. 514/2.
Victuallis … being in regrateris or foirstalleris handis or yit housit and nocht presentand the merket foirsaid a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlvii 73.
All meins he micht, by craft or ȝit ingyne 1622-6 Bisset II 222/32.
The pryse and guidis … to be put in suir keiping upoun the expensis of it self or ȝit the takeris expensis ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court 10.
I jamph a boll? Or yet a peck? No, no! — 1588 Cath. Tr. 202/7.
Quhatsoeuer do proceid ather from the hail body [of the Catholic Church] ather yeit ony particular membre of the same(3) 1375 Barb. i 246.
He that thryll is … All that he has enbandownyt is Till hys lord … Yheyt has he nocht sa mekill fre As fre wyll to leyve [etc.] c1420 Wynt. ii 515.
In to the kynryc yhett off Frawnce Is nane so redy craft no chawnce Off [auld] kyn newe to fynde, Than to cast stanys fast behynde(4) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 666.
Sum fell quhilk rais not ȝit agane 1649 Dumfries Kirk S. 1 Jan.
Sara Jonstone compeiring, is delayed ȝit againe, till the sessione informe themselues more fullie anent her naughtines

d. Ȝit as than, ȝit as of before, once again as before.(1) 1432 Soc. Ant. II 388.
The qwhilk viii lib. the sayd William Lam yhit as than in our presence profyrt to pay(2) 1455 Melville Chart. 39.
Our will is and we charge yhou yhete as of before 1480 Acta Conc. I 55/2.
Esplane allegis yhit as he did of before … that [etc.] 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 58.
The lordis ordanis that letters be writin yit as of before to summond the saidis persons 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 109.
My lord governour, with avise of the lordis of secret counsale, yit as of befoir, decernis and ordanis [etc.] 1562 Reg. Privy C. I 209.
Thairfoir ordanis lettres to be direct, chargeing yit as of befoir all and sindry hir liegis … that [etc.] 1564–5 Reg. Privy C. I 316.
To charge the said Gilbert … yit as of befoir, to bring … the saidis Urchid … and Patrik

e. Emphasising the disbelief or incredulity implied in an interrogative: Quhy ȝitt, why ever, for what earthly reason? 1549 Lamb Resonyng 3/10.
I do nocht knaw that quhy ȝitt I suld be eschamit of my natioun

II. In temporal expressions.

2. Still. a. At or during a time in the past, with a general sense of continuation. b. Up to a time in the past. c. Ȝit than in the above senses. d. With negative const.: At or during some time in the past.a. 1375 Barb. v 463 (C).
In-to Carrik ȝeit wes the king, With a full sympill gaderyng 1375 Barb. xv 574.
Ȝeit a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 192.
For He of manis kynd tuk flesche, Beand God ȝete, as He was 1389 Cart. Cambuskenneth 260.
Ten oxin … the quhilk war wrangusly tane fra the said men and ȝit with the foresaid William resettit and haldin a1500 Seven S. 444.
The barnis credill was cassyn owre Bot … The barne lay slepand ȝit vnsterd a1500 Seven S. 2572.
Ane nychtingale … sang … That neuer in all thair dayis ȝet Thai hard half so sweit a sang 1491 Lennox Mun. 144.
Auld Thome of Maxwell was ay onkynd ȝhet hedertyllys 1600-1610 Melvill 318.
The peiple war yit gealous over the king for his knawin … favour to the erle of Hountlie 1639 Gowrie P. 107.
It was to earlie yeat to make any such motioneb. 1375 Barb. iv 114.
He tuk a culter hate glowand That ȝeit wes in a fyr brynnand 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 34.
Becaus thai ȝit being in hir company wes full of dissait, sho past to Stirling 1596 Dalr. I 112/12.
In the first rudiments of our commoune weil and instructions, quhen sum barbaritie was ȝit in the landc. 1375 Barb. ii 217.
For yheit then mekill off the land Wes in-till Inglis-mennys hand 1375 Barb. ii 241.
James off Dowglas thar wes syne That yheyt than wes bot litill off mycht 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 76 (see 5 b below).
Ȝit thand. 1375 Barb. xii 556.
And mony gud man fellyt wnder fet, That had na hap to rys wp ȝete 1567 Sat. P. iii 37.
Ȝit neuer did sho se his maik in France 1596 Dalr. II 46/33.
The rest of his body, quhilk albeit hurt, was nocht ȝit deid, the pynouris raue with an yrne tangs

3. At, up to the present time. Also ever ȝeit. b. In negative const.(1) a1500 Rauf C. 80.
Na, thank me not ouir airlie, for dreid that we threip, For I haue seruit thé ȝit of lytill thing to ruse a1500 Seven S. 459.
The grewhound has slane thi a barne And ȝit is liand in his blud 1495 Acta Conc. I 385/1.
For ocht at thai haf ȝite sen in the sad mater or producyt befor tham c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 107/24.
Donald Owyr Mair falsett had nor udir fowyr … his suppleis On gallow treis Ȝitt dois he glowir c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 121/97.
The formest hoip ȝit that I have … Is in ȝour grace 1513 Doug. iii v 74.
Art thou, or na, to Pirrus ȝit bywed? c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1142.
Adam dwelt … in that lusty vaill … Quhare ȝit his sepulture dois stand 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 272.
Sche mysknew that the said Robert wes jonit in mariaige wyth ane uther … yit alyve 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 44/28.
The sacrament of confirmation [is] … confirmed be all anciant wrytters, yea retained yit in the kirk of Ingland a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1503 (Wr.).
Like as before we did submit, So wee repeate the samine yet c1600 Montg. Suppl. v 25.
In nathing ȝeitt I hawe bene wys Except I newer folowitt thé 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 14.
Ane ensigne … In sing of ware … Quhose colours to declair Ȝit maks my hert affrayed 1623 Melrose P. 532.
We continew in oure formair opinioun that the said James is yitt the fittest man for the seruice 1662 Kennedy-Lauderdale Lett. 23.
I am desired by … Mr. William Adam, minister of Aire, who is still in yet, to beg this same favour 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 219.
The vestiges of a citie is ȝit visible in it c1705 Nimmo Narr. 98 (see B (1) (c) below).
Yet(2) 1375 Barb. xviii 284.
This is the derrest best that I Saw euer ȝeitb. c1475 Wall. i 8.
Our ald ennemys … That neuyr ȝeit to Scotland wald do gud c1475 Wall. v 625.
To mary thus I can nocht ȝeit attend 1490 Irland Mir. II 8/20.
For sene He maid the waurld it is nocht ȝit passit the tyme of sevin thousand ȝer a1500 Seven S. 1474.
Neuer ȝit ws twa betwene Was nevir hard sic schrewit thing a1500 Seven S. 1769.
For lelar men ȝit neuer I saw a1500 Seven S. 1951.
He dar nocht ȝit steire for the feid And thus he savit is ȝit fra deid c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 133.
Ȝit leit I nevir that larbar my leggis ga betueene … without a fee gret c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 174/17.
Come nevir ȝit May so fresche and grene, Bot Januar come als wod and kene 1513 Doug. i Prol. 464.
Virgyn Moder … be my muse, That nevir ȝit na synfull lyst refus 1589 Douglas Corr. 241.
I am nocht certane ȝeit quhat way I come 1600 R. Bruce in Misc. Bann. C. I 166.
‘Bot ar ye nocht persuadit?’ ‘No yit sir,’ sayis he 1630 Banff Ann. II 28.
The laird of Banf and his complishes have not yit satisfied the kirk for the slauchter of James Ogilvie 1655 Hibbert P. No. 16.
[He asked] gif I sawld any buter of ȝouris and I said to him I kuid not ȝeit 1665 Brechin Test. VI 301b.
The defunct being a young lad and not yet majoer hade no goods

4. a. Describing the occurrence of an event: At some time in the future. b. Of a state: During a period of time stretching into the future, up to some unspecified future time. Also yit … still.a. 1375 Barb. ii 440.
Gud is we pas of thar daunger … And ȝeyt may fall giff thai will chace Quyt thaim corn-but sum dele we sall c1400 Troy-bk. i 117.
That mytht haf happynnit, or ȝhet may, To some of ȝhoures ane othere day 1597 Calderwood V 667.
Require the amendiment of things in his majestie's person and counsell which may bring things yitt to a good fyne and end 1689 Acts XII 77/1.
That if he will yett delyver up the Bass & prisoners tharin he should have his bygone arears to himself & garrisoneb. (1) 1490 Exch. R. X 664.
To contineue … thar takkis that has ony of our saide landis yeit to ryn c1490 Irland Asl. MS I 5/27.
As thow has deferrit thi pennance langtym befor sa will thow ȝit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1365.
Madame sa sone the morne as it is day … He sall … thole justice … Quod scho my lord sall he ȝit leif sa lang? 1570 Sat. P. xviii 67.
Wo worth vnlefull meinis manifest, That ȝe haif socht to bruik authoritie! Ȝit vn obtenit quhill that our king may lest 1635 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I 149.
Truth will yet keep the crown of the causey in Scotland 1673 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 30 April.
The said day the cupp is condiscendit wpon yet for this yeir and the day of the race to be the twentie ane day of May nixtocome(2) 1628 Dumbarton B. Rec. 30.
They concluid that the said Janet Neill be yit keipit still in captiuitie till a comissioun be sent for

5. As ȝit. a. Up to the present time; at present; so far. b. Up to a time in the past.a. 1463 Acts XII 28/2.
I haue daily persewit … to haue had conresabill brevis … tueching the landis … of the quhilk as ȝit I can get na expedicioun nor outredd a1500 Lanc. 583.
Tueching to … his mesag and his bost … Tharof as ȝit tak I non anoye 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 4.
The dochteris of Rauf Brown ar nerrest ayris as yhit to thar fader 1520 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 58.
Or falyeand thairof to mak him pament as yeit [MS ȝeit] of sufficiant stuff as his awin wald have bene at ane certane daye 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 25.
I haif bene merwellus ewill wexit with my infyrmetie this v dayis passit and is nocht weill as yeit 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 91.
The Papis halynes as yit postponis the said promotioun, be the inoportune solistatioun … of ane maister Robert Crechtoun 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 5.
The said Jonet … hes continwallie occupiit the said bakland sensyne lyk as yit 1602 Prot. Bk. J. Foular I i 170.
For ocht thai have sene as ȝit he has na rycht therto 1622-6 Bisset II 356/12.
Because thow hes … beleved in … Jesus … thairfoir I am sent unto thé bot incaise that thou beleif in Him as ȝit thy hartie petitionis … thow sall obtent c1630 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 164.
So this M^cLeans sones posteritie doeth bruik this countrie of Ardgoure as yet since that time 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii 321.
Egypt was made a prouince of the Turkish empire, and so continueth as yet a1651 Calderwood VI 98.
The shippe was not as yitt out of the harbourie 1662 Orkney Rentals App. 43.
That the inhabitants of Kirkwall doe still continow in their insolencies … and as yett kepes up their pew or seat in the kirk as magistrattis 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 187.
In regaird of the inabalitie of my bodie sinc syn and is not lyk to be able to work for my lyfliehood as yitt 1679 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 23 July.
Ane good broad sword violentlie taken away … and nevir as yet restoredb. 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 76.
Ȝit than as ȝit [L. Adhuc tamen] he was nocht regenerate be the lawer of halie baptisme

6. Now, while there is still time. a1400 Leg. S. v 251.
Of paynis … He tald tham, that he schaw in hell, And sad, ‘Wrechis, mend ȝow ȝeit'

B. conj. For all that, despite that; nevertheless, notwithstanding. Also, ȝet than (for further examples, see Than adv. 3 d).For further examples of ȝit nevertheles, see Nevertheles adv. 1 (2).(1) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 15.
Tho lordis suld nocht sa wirke … Ȝit, quhene thai hafe thare thing done … Thai suld dresse thare deuocione In prayere c1400 Troy-bk. i 478.
Ȝhit will I tell ȝow neuirtheles Somwhat mare of that maiden fre 14.. Burgh Laws c. 14 (B).
Gyf … the modyr and the barne dee togyddyr yhit the man sal ioys the gudis of that land a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 95.
Suppose thi birny be bright … Yhit ar thi latis vnlufsum 1490 Irland Mir. I 65/16.
[The apple] had helpit him [sc. Adam] to lif lange, ȝit nocht perpetualy a1500 Quare Jel. 147.
Be as be may, ȝit my consate me gevith This jelousye c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 115/16.
Licet eger in corpore, Ȝit wald my mouth be wet with drink 1525 St. P. Henry VIII IV 342.
Ȝite 1531 Bell. Boece I 16.
Lat ane injure be commoun to us baith … Yit ane thing bene necessar to avise 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 67.
Bot ȝit be war with lawbouring of ȝour lance 1558-66 Knox I 86.
The greatast nomber that ever appeared … past nott thre or foure hundreth men; and yitt thei maid hott skarmisching 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 90.
He fled to hir for his refuge, ȝit thai vnmercifully … murderit him a1585 Arbuthnot in Maitl. Q. 122/108.
I luif humilitie … Bot with the heiche ȝit man I heichlie be a1585 Polwart Flyt. 39 (T).
Ȝit, knave, acknawledge thyne offence, Or I grow crabit, for to clair thé 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 80/24.
That nicht he ceist, and vvent to bed, bot greind Ȝit fast for day a1599 Rollock Wks. I 430.
Fy on us seing sic ane glorie laid up in hevin for us, that ȝit will not mak ane mein to get it 1660 Glasgow B. Rec. II 451.
[He] declared his loathsomnes to receave the said charge in respect of his age, yit was persuadit therto(b) 1375 Barb. i 368.
With a wertu & leavte A man may ȝeit sufficyand be 1375 Barb. i 556.
Bot ȝeit for all his [sc. Arthur's] gret valour, Modreyt his syster son him slew 1375 Barb. ii 39.
Nocht-for-thi ȝeit sum men sayis At that debat fell other-wayis 1375 Barb. iii 448.
Thai na mete … had Bot [etc.] … Yheyte sua contenyt thai thaim … That thai the tour held manlily 1533 Gau 63/29.
Giff ȝour sinnis be reid as blwid ȝeit thay sal be quhyt as snaw(c) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 36.
I ma nocht wirk … Fore gret eld & febilnes, Ȝet, for til eschew ydilnes I hafe translatit [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. x 455.
Yhete Yrtacus lewit nocht for that That he na sere women gat … & send to Ewfegenea [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxiv 49 (Reidpeth).
‘Thair is sic wyne in my selleir As neuir come in this cuntrie.’ ‘Ȝett,' quod the Deuill, ‘thou sellis our deir’ 1585 James VI Ess. 42.
[Deceased friends] Can noght returne, yet men are not so rair, Bot ye may get the lyke 1604-31 Craig v 23.
Yet best it were, to looke, before I lope c1705 Nimmo Narr. 98.
As for the herth money tho I collected twelve paroches of fourtin yet & put all in order in a book yet I was content to lose all my labor(d) 1570 Leslie 210.
The Protector of Inglande … send his broder … to haif taikin thame … bot yeat so was the pleasour of God, that [etc.](2) a1400 Leg. S. ii 1121.
Ȝeit thane of Thewis fare to se … He transcendit all men a1400 Leg. S. l 359.
Thocht I be … wele tacht in philosophy & als the sewine artis can all … Ȝet-thane all hale I thaim … forsak