A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Pot(t, v.1 Also: poitt-. [Only Sc., f. Pot(t n.2 Also in the later dial.]Almost all of our examples are north-eastern. Chiefly in the passive.
1. tr. To dig pits in, fill with pits. b. Freq., to dig a line of pits in, as boundary-markers.Cf. also Pit(t v.1 a, and later Sc. dial. pit v., id.1375 Barb. xi 388 (C) (see Pit(t v.1 a). 1592 Mining Rec. 32.
That the mossis quhairin the fewall … beis castin be nocht pottit bot keip ane forett Ib. 35.
Provyding they cast with ane forret and pot nocht the saids mosses in hollisb. 1540 5th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 609/1.
And fra that linealie carne be carne as is crossit and pottit be us to the feild stane 1571 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 396 (see Pot(t n.2 1). 1574 (1585) Reg. Great S. 263/1. 1578 Aberd. Chart. 337.
For intakin of the lonyng gait as the samyn is presentlie proppit and pottit 1585 Echt-Forbes Chart. 123.
Wpwart throw the Reisk … as it is meithit, pottit and karnett 1595 Aberd. B. Rec. II 129.
As the same was presentlie pottit and merkit this day 1618 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 370.
As it is pottit throw the said boig Ib. 371. 1662 Inverness Rec. II 212.
And least any pretend ignorance … quhatt is the platt of ground heirby inhibit … Provost Rose [etc.] … to goe and pott the ground(b) 1553 Prot. Bk. R. Lumsdane 14 b.
Frathin throw the mois as it is poittit this instant day to the Blak Bank
2. To erect (esp. a march-stone) by placing its base in a pit or hole.(1) 1578 Aberd. Chart. 339.
Ane eird stane pottit and saserit at the syd of the ald loune dyk of the intoune 1592 Inverness Rec. I lxii.
And frathyne certane marche stanis are pottit betwix the foresaidis landis 1625 Ib. II 165.
As the merche stans ar sett and pottit this present day in presens of [etc.] 1641 Acts V 540/1.
Certane marchestaines are pottit betuixt the foirsaidis lands of Culkebake and the commoune landis of the said burghe of Innernes 1686 Inverness Rec. II 342.
And raising of ane march stone which was potted betwixt the burrow roods and the lands of Kinmylies(2) 1586 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 471.
Ane new gallows of pillers of stayne with wallis to be … rayset … in the place devyset thairfore and pottet be my lord provest
3. To mark off the limits of (a piece of land) by pits as in 1 b or 2 (const. with march-stones).1654 Glasgow Chart. II 31.
According as the samyne shall be pottit meithit and merchit aff frae the rest of the said Johne his landis 1674 Elgin Rec. I 319.
John Brodie hes taine the Guiscruik as it is presentlie pottit for three years 1681 Inverness Rec. II 290.
To go the lenth of the said peice ground and pott the samen with march stones 1693 Elgin Rec. I 354.
That ther be ane part and portion of the said moiss marked and potted for the use of the bedmen
