Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rot(t, v. Also: rote. P.t. rottit. P.p. rottin. [ME and e.m.E. rotenn (Orm), roty(en (c1275), rote(n (Cursor M.), rotte (1523), rot (1567), p.t. and p.p. roted, etc., OE rotian.]

1. intr. To undergo decomposition; to deteriorate into a state of putrescence or decay. a. Chiefly of vegetable matter, also, of clothing. a1400 Leg. S. xv 83.
Clethe ȝow in nov clethynge That neuire sal rot, bot schen sal ay 1456 Hay II 130/33.
And herbis and flouris and fuellis rottis and drawis till a fadand hewe c1490 Porteous Noblenes 181/2 (Asl.).
The wyne graip rottis … gif it ly at the erd vnder the leif 1490 Irland Mir. I 86/21.
Quhen the rut of the tre ore herb is … rottin All the branchis rottis 1548 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 359.
The said schiref haldis the saidis cornis under arreistment upoun the ground rottand and spilland 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 114.
He gatt na guid nor proffeitt of his haill crop, but rottit and consumit away; the rest of the toun being weill win

b. Of the human body, or of any of its organs.Also with fra, out of (at).(1) 1494 Loutfut MS 31a.
That man suellis … and furthwith stinkis & rottis sa mervalusly that he is lik to be the devil a1538 Abell 107a.
Henry … wes incontinent strikin with horrible seiknes his bowellis rottit & deit … 1422 a1568 Bann. MS I p. 16/33.
Sall lordis and ladeis de and rot 15.. Bk. Dean Lismore 38.
There is tre dayis and sanct [blank] sayis that quhat man or voman is borin in ony of thame h[e] sal neuer rot 1670 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 16.
And William Bruce's body to be thereafter hung in chains till the same rott(2) 1576 Douglas Corr. 217.
Hir chyldes fute rotten fra hym at the junte 1628 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 18 June.
The thing that was in hir bellie rot out at hir syde ?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadfull Alarms 22.
And ye should wait while your eyes rote out of your head

c. Of stone: To be affected by erosion, etc.; to waste away. a1400 Leg. S. l 126.
& all ydolis of stok & stane Mone nedling rot, & wast, & wane

2. tr. To cause (something) to deteriorate in condition or to decay. 1540 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XV 12.
In the halding and feding geis in the chalmers of the land pertening to hir … and thairthrow hes rottin the samyn in ane part thairof 1583 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 310.
The thak … resaweis watter in sic sort that it sall rott the rwif