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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cute, n. Also: cuit(t, coot; kute, kuitt. [MDu. cote (Du. koot, Flem. keute), MLG. kote (LG. kote, köte), in the same or similar senses.]

1. The ankle-joint, ankle. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 232.
Sum claschis thé, sum cloddis thé on the cutis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3144.
I can mak schone, … Gif me the coppie of the Kings cuittis, And ȝe sall se richt sune quhat I can do c 1610 Crim. Trials III. 3.
Mackoneill, because he had the boyes on his legges, wrested his kute in leaping c1650 Spalding I. 375.
He vnhappellie going throw Abirdein … wrestit his cute or leg, quhairby he micht not stand to preiche 1661 Elgin Rec. II. 298.
Iohn Rind cam to him and did grip his arme and his cuitts Ib.
John Rind did tak him … be the cuites 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 6.
I did see the out-law Whiggs. Some had hoggers, some straw boots, Some uncovered legs and coots

b. The fetlock of a horse. 1618 M. Works Acc. xv. ii. 38 b.
For bleding the broun hors quhen he wes hurt in the kuitt 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 81.
Rub my horse belly, and his coots

2. With negatives: The least thing; a jot.App. after MDu. cote, ankle-bone used in playing games, similarly used in the phr. niet ene cote. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 337.
Quod he: I compt thame not ane cute a1568 Scott i. 109.
Wordis without werkis availȝeis nocht a cute Ib. xxxiii. 29.
Thow … cureis thame curis nocht thre cutis To be misknawin a1605 Montg. Son. xlvi. 12.
I count your cunning is not worth a cute Id. Misc. P. xxii. 9.
I cair thé not a cute a 1627 Craig v. 10.
I care not a cuit for her sake to bee slayne