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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.

Quhat-tim(e, interrog. phr., conj. and n. phr. Also: quat-, qw(h)at-, what- and -tym(e. [ME (1357) and e.m.E. what tyme, time; Quhat (as interrog. and compound rel. adj.: branches II and IV).]Also quhat time as, (th)at.

1. interrog. phr. At what time, on what occasion, when. c1475 Wall. iv 725.
That scho thaim tald quhat tyme he wald be thar c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) lxxi 11.
So weill thay ken, Quhat tyme and quhen, Thair menes thay sowld mak than 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10071.
The Empreour … watchit about quhat time that he best micht Cum to his chak, his awin twa sonnis to sla

2. conj. a. In definite sense: At the time that, when. 1558 Knox IV 406.
That what time she judged Israel, she was wife to Lapidoth c1590 Fowler I 365/24.
Sustained by the bowe which Venus gaue hir sonne, what tyme he pearst my humble hart

b. In indefinite sense: At the (hypothetical) time that, at any time at which, if and when, whenever, as soon as.Also quhat time and how sone, quhat time or hour.Appar. more common in early texts.(1) c1379 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 1.
That qvat tyme at he will aske me … that I sall gif hym my charter 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
And qwhat tyme that that endenture be refourmyd it sal be lefful to the partie of Ingland til gif vp qwhat bil at thaim likis 1399 Holyrood Chart. 113.
The qwilk hundir ponde the said religious men … sal redili resafe and gudli qwat tyme that it be redi to be payd 1405 Facs. Nat. MSS II liv. c1420 Wynt. ii 1491.
Bot qwhat tyme at thaire appetyte Thame movyd in lust … That yle ay thai walde pas tylle c1425 (1431) Reg. Great S. 45/1. 1428 Wemyss Chart. 56.
Als lange and quhat tyme that ony are labowrid or wonyn 1434–5 Chart. Coupar A. II 34.
Na the lying stil of it [sc. land in dispute] unerit sal … mak rycht to nowthir of the partis quhat tyme that thai mak persewing to the rycht … of the forsaid landis Ib. 1445 Misc. Spald. C. V 282. 1457 Ib. 22.
And quhat tyme that the persounes … be warnyt on othir dayis than the gilde dai … to cum to the tolbuth and thai compeir noght, ilke man at is absent sall pay [etc.] 1477 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 68.
Payand tharefore [etc.] … the xiiij day of Julij next … the quhilk is the first day of the parliament gif it hauldis and gif the parliament hauldis nocht … quhat tym that I sal charge him thairto 1493 Oliphants 29.(2) 1429 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 10.
The said William … sall haf fre vsche and entre … qwat tym hym lykis, nedis or mysteryis 1480 Newbattle Coll. (Reg. H.) Somerville.
Quat tym 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II 167.
That quhat time ony maner of schippis arryvit at the port of Leyth ladynnit with gudis(3) 1498 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 613.
Quhat tim and how soine the said Robert … deliueris to me … the sovm of auchten markis 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 536/1.
That quhat tyme and how sone Johne Lord Lindesay … beis convict thairof(4) 1520 Thanes of Cawdor 134.
Quhat tym or howyr God sendis thame ony barnys that thae sal baptys the barn

3. At or in quhat time, = 2 b. 1413 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 364.
And att what tyme at the forsayde lady may be tretyt till vpp gyff tha landis … till infeffe William Frasare in the sayde landys 1425 Milne-Home MSS 19.
The sayd Davy oblysis him in qwhat time the sayde Alexander [thynkis it] spedeful he sal do [his bus]ines to [etc.]