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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.

Quhar(e)at, Quhairat, interrog. and rel. adv. Also: quhairatt, whairat(t. [ME quor-at (Gen. & Exodus), north. ME whare-at (c1400): cf. Quher(e)at. Appar. more often written as one word.]

1. interrog. What … at?, at what? a1500 Henr. Fab. 571.
Now iuge ȝe all quhairat schir Lowrence lewch a1578 Pitsc. I 249/18.
The paip inquirit quhairat they lewche 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 280.
How thair Belman Henslie … sayd to the assistand people, whair at wounder ȝe?

2. As a compound rel.: At the point at which. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 179.
Thay ay begyn quhar at thar faderis left

3. As a simple relative, in restrictive, descriptive and resumptive use. a. In local senses: At which (place, happening, point in a text, etc.). 1513 Doug. ii viii 33.
A smal wykket … A litil ȝet … Quharat was wont alane Andromocha To entir oft Ib. i v 32. 1562-3 Winȝet I 78/12.
Siklyke that the croce and pillar quhareat oure Saluiour sufferit 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 537.
The pulder being laid in the laich hous quhairat Boithuile in proper persoun was present 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 38.
The governour come to … Jedburgh, quhairat was fochtin cruellie Ib. 264.
George Erle of Huntlie … with the haill horsmen [etc.] … past towartis Merchingstoun … quhairat thai remanit 1588 King Cat. Sig. h. iv.
Giff ȝow wald knaw the dominicall lettre of ony hundereth ȝere, quhairat the ordre of the first table according to the awld kallendar is interrupted ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 46.
Ellsay … quhairin is … ane small point of ane ness quhairat the fisher-boats lyes

b. In non-local senses, with reference to cause or occasion: = at which (event, occasion or circumstance). ?1438 Alex. (c1580) i 1961.
Caulus to erd was borne doun thair, And dyuers deid, quhairat the king Maid efter for thame great murning 1549 Lamb Resonyng 49/5.
The Scottis bordouraris … spuilȝeit our subiectis [etc.], quharat Kyng Henry merualit mekill [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 995.
Quhairat 1562-3 Winȝet I 3/13. 1558-66 Knox II 44.
Whairatt the Frenche and Quene Regent, enraged, begane to executt their tirranye upoun [etc.] Ib. 362.
Whairat Ib. 380. a1578 Pitsc. I 98/3.
Quhairat the said laird tuik sic dispyt that [etc.] c1590 Fowler II 25/10.
Thai … cryit out that I was a Huguenot, a heretique [etc.] … quhairat thai war sa commouit that [etc.] Ib. 23/20. 1593 Misc. Maitl. C. I 61. c1615 Chron. Kings 154.
Quhairatt 1630 Justiciary Cases I 145.
Quhairat the beholderis mervelling the said Alexr. said to thame [etc.] c1650 Spalding I 217.
Quhilk wes plainlie refusit by the covenanters; quhairat his majestie took heighe offens