Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FORESTA, v. Also for(e)sta(w). Sc. forms of Eng. forestall.
1. As in Eng., to anticipate, ‡to corner the market, to buy up goods in order to get a monopoly. Hence for(e)stawer, for(e)staer, one who does this (Sc. 1887 Jam.).Peb. 1715 A. Pennecuik Descr. of Twd. 101:
And some Forstawers in effect, Carry'd me North to make their Blocks.Fif. 1893 G. Setoun Barncraig vii.:
An' now when he's foresta'd, he persuades himsel' that he's been trifled wi'.
¶2. Appar. = to anticipate (wrongly), to mistake one's meaning.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 159:
A cripple I'm not, ye forsta' me, Tho' lame of a hand that I be.
