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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.

‡GAIT, n.1 Also †gaitt, †gate. Sc. forms = Eng. goat. Also used coll. Dim. getlin (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Gait is also found in Nhb. dial. See also Goat. [ge:t]Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 388:
You strive about uncoft Gait.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems II. 56:
Jove a' receiv'd, Ky, Gates and Ews.s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 351:
Nae mair a rive o' gait, or fowl, Ha'f rough, ha'f roastet on a coal.ne.Per. 1869 Athenaeum (27 Feb.) 317:
Wha's gaitt are thae Doun in yon green?Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fablesfrae French 52:
Gleg Captain Tod, past Maister in deceit, Happen't ae day a dowfart Gait to meet.

Combs.: †1. gait-berry, “an old name for the bramble-berry” (Tvt. 1825 Jam.); 2. gait-hair, feathery cirrus clouds (Rs., Kcb.10 1953); †3. gaiter-tree, a bramble-bush (Tvt. 1825 Jam.); 4. gate-whey, the whey of goat's milk (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 219).2. Bwk. 1951 per Abd.27:
It'll be a fine day the morn. See at the gait-hair.

[O.Sc. has gait, id., from 1424, gate, get, from 1516, from North.Mid.Eng. gait, O.E. gāt, O.N. geit. The pl. gait (cf. O.N. geitr) is also common in O.Sc. For gaiter-tree, cf. O.E. gāte-trēow, “goat-tree,” cornel-tree.]

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