Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BAET, v. Sc. form of Eng. beat. [bet I.Sc., Abd. + bit, Rxb.; be¹t Ags.]

1. To hit, strike.Ork.(D) 1904 Dennison Orcad. Sketches 25–26:
Sheu rowed aboot an' aboot i' the sea, an' baeted hersel' wi' her megs [flappers], like a t'ing distracted.Rxb.(D) 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 6:
Baet . . . to beat.

2. To surpass.Sh.(D) 1931 Saga in Shet. Times (14.Mar.) 7:
A'm heard me some queer tongues trow me traivels ower da waarld, bit I tink it Shetlan' folk kin baet dem a'.Abd.(D) 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 125:
She's a gweed beast yon an' widna be easy baet.Ags.¹ 1932:
It fair baets me to answer that.Rxb.(D) 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 5:
Yow yins'll finnd that gey ill ti baet.

Phr. to own baet, to own oneself defeated.Abd.(D) 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 10:
Ye wis the better han', an' aw wis forc't to own baet.

3. Used nautically: to make progress by tacking.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 114:
T'o' sheu's auld warld i' her wey An' unco' duff tae baet or stey, Yet i' her I ha'e faith.