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.
Pout, Powt, n. Also: puitt-, putt-. [ME pult(e (a 1425), e.m.E. poult (1634), poute (1575), powte (1602), a young fowl, also poot(e (1512) a young fowl, also applied to the young of a fox, contracted f. ME and e.m.E. pulet, poullet, polet, Pullet n. In mod. Sc. as pout, powt, poot, with the phonological forms /put/ and /pʌut/.] The young of a game-bird.For further examples, see Mure-powt, also Mure-fowl n. and Partri(d)g(e n.(a) 1502 Treas. Acc. II 155.
To ane man brocht powtis to the king 1508 Ib. IV 133.
To ane man to haff butir and quyk powtis to the quene 1526 Household Bks. Jas. V 60.
j perdix, xij snipis, xix pouttis 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 95.
The blak cok and the gray hen, vj d. Item the powttis the dosoen, xij d. 1551 Acts II 486/2.
The slauchter of the ȝoung lambis, lapronis and ȝoung poutis of pertrik or wylde foule a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xviii 58 (see Mete n.1 1 g). 1607 Misc. Maitl. C. I 166.
Twa gryte powtis at ten schillingis the pice 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 449.
Thair with schoit of hagbute [etc.] … slew grite nomberis of poutis and utheris mure foullis 1628 Ib. 2 Ser. II 388.
That nane of thame … take or slay anie powtes or anie uther kynde of wylde foule untill [etc.] 1642 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 17.
The best pair of powtts 1671 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 304.
Powtes 1679 J. Somerville Mem. I 372.
Being now in the midle of Jully, the poutes wer for flight 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 44.
For a pair pouts, a moor-foull, 4 cold chikens, and a dish of peas 1682 5th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 610/1.
Pouts(b) 1600 Acts IV 237/1.
Ane of the greatest occasiones of the scarstie of the saidis partrikis and murefoull, is be ressone of the great slauchter of thair puttis and ȝoungeanis 1659 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 236.
By killing of them [moorhens and wild ducks] the whole eggis and young puittis of the hennes and duikis so taiken … are lykewayes destroyed therby
