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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FORSTA, v. Also -staa, -staw. To comprehend, understand (Ork. c.1838 in Ellis E.E.P. V. 803; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.10, “now mostly jocular,” Ork.5, Abd.27 1953, “Bch. coast, obsol.”). [fɔr′stɑ:, -stǫ:]Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 29:
Ye forstaws, I mean the men folk.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 319:
A dialec o' seek dootfil origin an' wi siccan pecuiler wirds 'at na or'nar bothy can forsta.

[Prob. ad. Du. verstaan, id., rather than a hist. development of Norw. forstaa, id., itself a borrowing from M.L.Ger. The word may have come from Du. seamen in the islands in the 17th and 18th cents. and their difficulty in understanding the native speech.]

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