Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Resort, -soirt, n. Also: ra- and -sorte. [ME and e.m.E. resorte a recourse (Chaucer), recourse (to) (1474), access (Lydgate), repair (a1450), concourse of people (1470–85), etc., OF resort, ressort. (c1160 and early 13th c. in Larousse) resource, aid, spring, etc., f. resortir Resort v.]There is possible ambiguity between senses 2 and 3.

1. A coming together or concourse of musical sounds. Cf. Resort v. 4. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 516.
At thair resort baith heuin and eird resoundit

2. Of persons, etc.: The action of going to (to, in) a place or of meeting with others regularly or frequently, also ? on a particular occasion. 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 395.
For commond weill of owre sowerane lordis legis makand rasort in and to owre said burght 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. II 191.
Becaus of the resort of the assassoris to the clarkis chalmer for awysing of the proceis a1568 Bann. MS 269a/31.
Crhyst keip thir birdis … Fra fals luvaris and thair resort 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 81.
Quhy eschewit scho the townis resort, and pepillis eyis? 1585 Reg. Privy C. III 752.
The cheif occasioun thairof [sc. the spreading of the plague] being the confluence, grite repair and resorte of rascall people 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 31.
The greit resoirt … of puirvagaboundis … quha … overlayis the cuntrey begging [etc.] — 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 18.
In ane place of small resort, betwene the auld fallin wallis of twa kirkis

3. Opportunity for repair or access to a person, into a place, or for consorting with other persons. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 618.
Dissimilance … In to that court sall neuer get resorte 1540 Id. Sat. 242.
Chastity, Quha with our prelats can get na resort 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 527.
He was willit as afore na wayis to haue intelligence or resort to the foreyne ambassadouris

4. (A place of) repair or residence. 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 353.
[They] hes withdrawin thame selffis in … Ergyle … intending thair to mak thair resort and residence