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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Ȝet(t, Yet(t, n. Also: ȝhet, yhet(e, ȝete, yete, ȝeth, yeth, ȝeit, yeit(t, yeite, yheit, ȝeat(t, yeat(t, yeate, ȝat(e, yat(e, ȝhat, yhat(e, ȝait(t, yait(t, ȝaet, ȝit, yit, eat. [ME and e.m.E. ȝet (c1175), ȝeate (Ancr. R.), yhate (Rolle), ȝate (Wyclif), ȝat (14th c.), yate (c1450), OE ᵹeat. Cf. Gat(e n.³ Also in the later dial.]For many further examples see Bak-ȝet n., Barras ȝet n., Fore-ȝet(t n., Gardin n. 2, Inner adj. 1, Outer adj. (1), Port n.², Postern(e n. comb., Postroun(e n., Postrum n.¹ comb., Sol(e n.¹ 3 a, Wattir ȝet n.Also in place-names. 1165–1214 Liber Melros I 131.
Ada de Yetham a1300 Liber Calchou 85.
Usque ad Gateyeth & sic per Gateyeth vsque ad viam 1611 Aberd. Council Lett. I 111.
The tenement of land … lyand in the heid of the Natherkirkyett of this burgh

1. A gateway or entrance to a building, town, etc. implying the existence of a gate or gates with which it is closed. Also const. possess. or with qualifier identifying the particular gate referred to. b. The gate itself. c. pl. In the above senses.For a discussion (with illustration) of iron ‘yetts’, see Ayr & Gall. Coll. VII 12-14.(1) 1375 Barb. xvii 444 (C) (see (f) below).
Ȝhet ?1438 Alex. ii 2845.
My father Clarus sall assale … At the ȝet quhare the barreris hewin is 1468 Peebles B. Rec. I 157.
It is ordanyt … that the iiij portis of the town sal be closyt and kepit daly be a man that sal stand for the kepyn of ilk yet a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 388.
He opnit ane secreit ȝet and out thair at Conuoyit hir a1500 Seven S. 1645.
He biggit a towre within the ȝet a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1232.
Than is ouer lait, allace … Quhan deiths cart will stand befoir the ȝet 1513 Doug. ii x 201.
Abowt my feit My spows lappit fell down into the ȝet [L. in limine] 1553–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I 112.
For … setting of the greit stane yet at the abbay 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 11.
The portar sal abyd continualy at the ȝet [sc. of the college], and receave the principalis signet of thayme that desiris to pas furth 1596 Dalr. II 468/10.
[He] mett the magistret in the ȝet [L. præ foribus magistratiui occurrentem](b) 1425 Liber Melros 545.
The quylke bra & dyke had quylum a ȝete closand and opynand for the caryage of tymbyr(c) 1425 Liber Dryburgh 277.
Goeing about the fowsie or dyke quhilk dyke sumtyme had a certane yett steikit and lockit for the carreying therby of tymber for the building of the Abbacie of Dryburgh 1574 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 22.
Ane garroun tobe the myd standart to the ȝett 1628 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 118.
The porter is appointed to attend on the yett and to awaitt on the students conveining and dimissioun 1644 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 41.
For bigging ane stane wall … and ane great yett on everie end pendit within and withowt(d) 1521 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 195.
Awand of annuel of the new yeit iij s. a1578 Pitsc. I 379/6.
Schir Dawid Lyndsay … caussit ane great clude come out of the heavins done abone the ȝeit(e) c1563 Reg. Panmure I cxliii.
The east gawel of the Chappel fra that part quhar now is the yeate to the Orologe hil c1563 Reg. Panmure I cxliv.
Thear hes beine gryt fortificatione theare, as may cleirlie be seine on ather half quhar the ȝeat hes beine(f) 1375 Barb. iv 431.
Thai thaim folowit to the ȝate [sc. of the castle] And slew off thaim as thai in past 1375 Barb. x 231.
Quhen it [sc. the wain] wes set ewynly Betuix the chekis of the ȝat 1375 Barb. xvii 444.
In-till the toun syne entryt thai … For thar come a gret cumpany … Bot or thai come the tother war past The ȝat and barryt it rycht [C. The ȝhet thai barrit and closit] fast 1471 Ayr B. Ct. 22 April.
That the said Alexander sal mak wp agayn the rowane of the ȝat … als gude as it was qwhen he brak it done & made the ȝat a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 181.
Lordis and ladyis … Met hym furth on the gate, Syne take him in at yate(g) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 117.
Fenell … lokkitt the dure and ran to the ȝaitt [1821 yet], quhair scho gat hors fled awaye(h) c1650 Spalding I 51.
Thay enterit the houss maisterfullie … syne schot the lady with hir dochteris to hir owne yit to ane kilbarne quhair thay remanit(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 251.
To the ȝet of the cite With gret redure approchit he 1449 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V ii 746 (16 Dec.).
Audittouris to William Scheraris cownt of the yhet of the Ovirkirkgate 1506 Treas. Acc. III 357.
To ane man at the ȝet of Strivelin iij s. 1533 Dumfries B. Ct. 133a.
The … foyrbutht nixt the yett of auld Robert McBrayr … was lauchfully reconqueist 1534–5 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 123.
The compt of the causa stanis leding betwex the uttir yett of the palis and the innyr yett 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II 276.
Robert Portar, keper of the ȝeit of Cupar 1567 Yester Wr. 210.
I … grantis me to occupie and laubour thre rigis of land quhilk liis before the ȝait of Pinkinhous 1570 Leslie 101.
[They] under myndit the neddir sole of the yett of Dumbartane and enterit thairat and tuik the castell 1577 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 12.
Ane tenement … with in the ȝaet of the wester clois 1600 Black Bk. Taymouth 336.
Compt of the graith quhilk [the] porter of Balloch hes within the platt thairoff … At the yet of Balloch ane hagbute with snap werk(3) 1375 Barb. xvii 755 (C).
The folk that assalȝeand wer At Mary-ȝet, [to-hewyn] had The barras a1400 Leg. S. ii 244.
As thai led hym furth the gat, He met, in Hostientis ȝete [L. In porta Ostiensi] A woman a1400 Leg. S. xl 1174.
I consel ȝow To Sancte Niniane ȝet ȝe awou c1475 Wall. iv 771.
To the south ȝett the gaynest way he drew 1487 Reg. Episc. Glasg. II 453.
Jacente infra civitatem Glasguensem continue super le Barres Ȝeth 1489 Treas. Acc. I 115.
Item, to Inglis pyparis, that com to the castell ȝet and playt to the king a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1291.
We will nocht ga with the bot to the port, That is to say, vnto the kings ȝet 1505–6 Crosraguel Chart. I 63.
For the wrangwis occupiing of foure dwelling-houssis … at the abbay yete 1533 Boece 183a.
Of sum [pennies] the prent was ane doubill porte [L. ianus geminus] … representing the doubill ȝett in Rome, quhilk in tyme of weris was patent and closit in tyme of pece c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 483.
At the last vnto ane posterne ȝet He come belyue and thair enterit allane 1570 Edinb. B. Rec. III 279.
Yaitt 1582 Perth B. Ct. (3 April).
Ȝeatt 1582 Perth B. Ct. 1 May.
Vmquhile James Moncreife in the Charterhous ȝit besyd the burgh of Perth 1583 Mill Mediæv. Plays 245.
Some persons … went throu the toun with pipers etc. and laid a dead horse to the minister's yait 1590 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 251.
[The council] hes settin to Harbert Gledstanis the bigging of thair hie poirt callit the Mekill Yet … to big sufficientlie with gemmes pend and sall mak the battelling thairof with frestane [etc.] 1611–12 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 334.
Sex scroukes for the cochhous yet and for the courie yet 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 64.
To Johne Flebarne smythe for ane gryit knok to ane turnpyk yet 1622 Reg. Great S. 126/1.
Gairdin-yett 1628–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 273.
For laying of ane new calsay betuix the utter yet and inner yet [at Linlithgow palace] 1653 Fugitive Poetry II xxvii 5/122.
Yeate 1660 Inverurie 349.
No sermon, because of the speat of water overuning the kirk yet 1684 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 100.
And that on sentrie should be at the tolbuith yeat in the day tyme(b) 1658–1700 Greyfriars Interments 523.
Wife of Mr. William Anderson (at the Greyfriar eat)b. 1375 Barb. iv 153.
Thai [sc. in the castle] … war assailyt … wtouth with folk that thaim swa toilȝit That thai brynt magre thaim the ȝat [C. ȝet] a1400 Leg. S. iii 1005.
He knokit faste apon the ȝet c1475 Wall. v 1122.
Be that Schir Jhone had set the ȝett in fyr 1497 Treas. Acc. I 338.
To bere the crukis of the irne ȝet of Dunbar fra … Edinburgh to Leith c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 26/17.
Thai had me bundin to the ȝet Quhair Strangenes had bene portar ay 1530 Chart. Holy Trin. 157.
Estland burdis … for the greit yhet … Item for ii greit treis to bind the yhet 1539–41 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 289.
For iiii crowkis send to the park yet bewest the listis in Striveling 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II 287.
For aucht dallis and thre rauchteris to the greit tymmer ȝet at the Abbey 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 294.
For the mending of ane band to the samyn yeat 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 352.
For yrne wark to the brig yett and ane lok … for makin of ane new half yett and mending of uder half yett of the brig 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II 130.
Ane lok to Jhonn Knox yet, and twa keyis 1580–1 Reg. Privy C. III 364.
The great irne yett of the dungeoun [of Blaknes Castle] … with the hingand lok … of the same 1585 Burns Benef. Lect. 174.
[To have the communion tables erected in the centre part of the church, surrounded by wooden flakes or barricades with a gate or] yett [at each end] 1592–3 Mining Rec. 89.
I affixit and left ane copie of the saidis letters vpone the yeit of his said dwelling hous 1632 Peebles Gleanings 126.
For mending of ane lock of the yett of the fleschmercatt 1639 Breadalbane Lett. No 758.
The naillis must be sex inch long & great for the ȝat is very thick 1665 Peebles B. Rec. II 67.
Thes persones … who petitioned … for ane entrie doun and upthrow St. Michaellis wynd ather to hing ane sufficient doore or yet upon the foote of the wynd, with cruikes, bonds, lock and key, or [etc.]c. 1375 Barb. vi 446.
Thai sparyt the ȝattis [C. ȝettis] hastily 1375 Barb. xviii 489.
Stewart Walter … With [fyve] hunder in cumpany Till Ȝorkis ȝettis the chas gan ma c1400 Troy-bk. ii 746.
The Gregeois wpone ilk syd The ȝattes fellonly that tyd Of thar innes broke c1420 Wynt. v 3004.
Wytht yhettys off bras he closyt fast Off that deipe den the entre 14.. Burgh Laws c. 35 (A).
Gif ony man of the castell misdois till aburges the burges sal ask his rycht at the castell vtouth the ȝettis [B. yhettys] 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 8.
That the yattes at arr vp be stekit ilke nyght, and in continent the remanand of yattes and othiris opin places of the toune be stekit and closit 1460 Hay Alex. 2744.
The duk was hangit on the ȝettis or day 1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 168.
Thai sal … vphald the dyking of the sayd hill … and … at na husche na entre be nocht to the sayd hyll bot at yetis c1475 Wall. i 91.
Leit breggis doun, and portcules thai drew, Set wp ȝettis syne [etc.] c1515 Asl. MS I 220/5.
The Erll of Huntlie and the Ogilbeis … and the Erll of Craufurd on the tother part met at the ȝettis of Arbroth a1538 Abell 48a.
He ordanit at in the hecht of castellis & ȝattis of ceteis suld be put the takin of the cros 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 192.
To the beting of the inner and utir garding dykis … To Thom Skowgall for making of twa gret doubill yetis with ane bak dure to the garding a1540 Freiris Berw. 47 (M).
It is so layt I dreid the ȝettis be closit 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII 299.
For doun taking of tua irne ȝettis in the abbay of Halyrudhous, carting and tursing thairof to Linlithqu 1553–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I 112.
For … rebettis and … lintellis to Dudingstoun and Sanct Leonards yettis 1566 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 103.
Tua doubill burdin yettis 1596 Dalr. II 216/8.
She [sc. the queen] commandet to cast the castel ȝetis vp to the wal 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII 271.
The haill yrone yettis upoun ony houssis and strenthis within the lait Bordouris pertening to ony … personis of brokin and disordourit clannis, and to commoun people not being answerable baronis, to be removit and turnit in plew irnis 1607 Misc. Spald. C. II 221.
The keiping of the keyis of the vtter yettis of the parliament hous appertenes to the lord constable and the gairding and keiping of the vtter yettis … appertenes [etc.] … and … the meining and intentioun of the saidis lordis bye the word wtter bar wes nothing ellis bot the wtter yeattis 1617 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 77.
As he was passing on the drawbrige betuix the tua yeites of the Louver ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 210.
This counterfeit captain … called by the watch word; which being heard, yeitts are cassen open 1667 Highland P. II 17.
He cried to open the yaits, that they were wearied with long travel 1674 Argyll Justic. Rec. 39.
I affixt and left ane just authentick copie of the saids lettres wpon the most patent yeatts of the said houss of Dowart becaus I could not apprehend them personallie 1676 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 17.
The 3 great park yeatts and the inner park yeatts

d. At (one's, another's, the) ȝet(tis), at the ȝet(tis) of, by the entrance; immediately outside or beyond (a place). Also proverb. a1400 Leg. S. i 515.
Symon … band ane hell hound at his ȝete a1400 Leg. S. ii 1034.
Fand a multytud … Of Jowis, stanand at his yhat [L. ante fores] c1420 Wynt. viii 4998 (C).
Cum I are, cum I lat, I fande Annote at the ȝhat [R. yhate, W. ȝait] c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 125.
I fand, full redy at the ȝate, The maister portare, callit Pacience c1460 Regim. Princ. 165 (Maitl.).
To small men commit all casis small Off pure pleinȝeand that ȝamers at the ȝet a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 402.
Annas hous wes first into the gait … Johnne enterit in, Peter stude at the ȝet c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xvi 21.
A beggare … lay at his yate, full of bylis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1199 (B).
Nor amang princis can I get na grace, Bot busteously ar haldin at thair ȝaittis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5964.
Quhen I stude naikit att ȝour ȝett 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9734.
He sat doun at his ȝet Amang the lipper sum almous for to get 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 681.
Ane serving gentleman send for him That stude ane lang hour at his yeatt, Or he could ony entres geatt 1598–9 St. A. Kirk S. 883.
That nane of the pure of this citie be sufferit to beg on the streittis, or resave almous at the yettis or durris of the inhabitantis thairofproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 742.
He was never a lukkie knype that had his mother at the yet

e. fig. (Nere) in the yettis, close at hand, in the offing. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxiv 33.
Quhen ye se al thir thingis, wit ye that it is nere in the yettis [AV even at the doors; L. in januis]

f. Within (another's) ȝettis, within the confines of another's house, hence, by implication, under that person's protection. 1588 King Cat. 152.
Thow sall nocht deny the wages of … the poor and nedie brether, or of the stranger quhilk duellis with thé and is within thy ȝettis

2. fig. and in fig. context. The gateway or portal to or opportunity to go to another level of existence, specif. the gate(s) of heaven, hell, etc.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii 732.
Of hewine thu sal fynd opyne ȝete a1400 Leg. S. l 1153.
A woice of hewine … sad, ‘My dere lowit, cume to me, For all my yheit is opnyt thé' c1420 Wynt. v 3808.
The yhete off hewyn that ay suld be Oppyn till all man penytent 1456 Hay I 31/27.
He gave the keyis of hevin ȝettis to Sanct Petir a1500 Henr. Orph. 250.
Tyll at the last vnto the yett of hell He come 1490 Irland Mir. II 13/26.
The sacrament of bapteme … opynnis the port and ȝet of paradice 1525 St. A. Formulare I 269.
The fyre and the suorde that stoppit Adam our forefader fra the yettis of paradyse mot stop thame fra the gloir of hevin a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 134/30.
The godly doctrine of His kirk, aganis the quhilkis hellis ȝettes quhilk is haresy, vice and syne—cane nocht prevaile 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 824.
Peitie, porter of hellis yeattis 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 476.
Thou shalt never win in at the yate of that kingdom(2) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1293.
Quhilk is the ȝet that we call now the port? Nocht bot our graif to pas in as a mort 1513 Doug. vi xv 109.
Thar bene ordanyt for dremys ȝettis twane, Quharof, thai say, of horn forgit is ane, At quham the suythfast swevynnys … Departis all ways … The tother port is forgit … Of eliphantyne … Bot tharat goddis infernal lattis owt The fals swevynnys c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. vii 13, 14.
Entre ye be the strayt yet: for the yet that leidis to perditioun is large … How straite is the yet, and narow the way, that leidis to life 1562-3 Winȝet I 139/28.
Wtheris ȝour scoleris … hes in thare imaginatioun cloisit vp, slotit, and neidnalit the samin ȝettis of our hæretage

3. a. attrib. With nalis. b. comb. With cheke, hous, lock, etc. toure.a. 1497 Treas. Acc. I 357.
For v^c ȝet nalis dis hedit to Dunbarb. (1) 1513 Doug. ii viii 96.
Oft wyth the ram the port is schaik and duschit, Down bet ȝet chekis and bandis al tofruschit 1513 Doug. vii x 51.
Queyn Juno … strang ȝet chekis of weirfar and batell Strake down 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2438.
Scho come richt preuilie To the ȝet cheik, and stude thair quietlie 1566 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 102.
The valt at the north yett cheik c1650 Spalding I 28.
Nicht being fallin he lodgis in Androw Hammiltouns at the yet cheik who wes ane ostlar(2) 1459 Reg. Paisley vi n.
[The abbot of Paisley] biggit ane gret porcioun of the steple and ane staitlie yet-hous 16.. Hist. Kennedy 12.
Cuming … to the yett-hous, quhilk wes joynit to the jayme of the mayne hous 16.. Hist. Kennedy 12.
The pend of the yett-hous 1612 Sutherland Bk. III 181.
Patrik McKie … possessis the yet-hous of the said abay(3) c1639 Sc. Lore 163.
For mending of the turnpyke ȝett lock & key(4) 1501 Treas. Acc. II 85.
To Johne Lokhert masoun in pairt of payment of the ȝet toure bigging in Strivelin 1533 Boece 594b.
The ȝet toure was taikin 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 186.
In maid irne werk … [to] the yet toure abone the gret pend 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 132.
j^m sklait to beit the munitioun hous, the ȝett tower and the porter luge