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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STOIT, v., n.¹, adv. Also stoite, stoyt(e), stite, styte, steit, steyt; also stout (Fif.). [stɔit, stəit; Fif. Stʌut]

I. v. 1. intr. To bounce, to rebound (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 186; Inv. 1904 E.D.D.; Mry. 1928). Also tr. to cause to bounce or rebound (Gregor). More commonly as Stot, v.²ne.Sc. 1836 J. Grant Tales 65:
Something bang't oot wi' sic a vengeance as gart her stoit back for a yard or twa.

2. To stagger, stumble from drink or weakness, blunder about, walk in a dazed, uncertain manner (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 186; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Rxb. 1942 Zai; ne.Sc., em.Sc., Lnk., Ayr., s.Sc., Uls. 1971).Sc. 1719 in Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) l. 124:
Wi' Writing I'm sae bleirt and doited, That when I raise, in Troth I stoited.Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 500:
Stout Steen gart mony a fallow stoit, and flang them down like faill.Ayr. 1787 Burns To Miss Ferrier iii.:
Last day my mind was in a bog, Down George's Street I stoited.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 181:
'Mang Winter's snaws, turn'd almost doited, I swagger'd forth, but near han' stoited.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems II. 61:
An auld, beld carle, Just stoitin to the ither warl.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxx.:
I wish ye had seen him stoiting about wi' a kmd o' dot-and-go-one sort o' motion.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck vii.:
If ye war to stite aff that, ye wad gang to the boddam o the linn wi' a flaip.Uls. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 85:
I'm stoitin' through like onnie stoge.Kcd. 1849 W. Jamie Gleanings 25:
'Tis fifty simmers, a' but ane, Sin' first I man'd to stoit my lane.Fif. 1873 J. Wood Ceres Races 58:
Wha stouts upon a wooden leg.Lnk. 1895 W. Stewart Lilts 87:
My muse, dear Will's, a glaikit jaud, She stoytes alang like tinker's yaud.

3. (1) To walk with a short sharp step (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 186), to move with agility (wm.Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1823 Lockhart Reg. Dalton III. 212:
A wheen tutors and laddies gaun stoiting about wi' gowns and square trenchers?

(2) tr. To set down (the feet) firmly, to plant (the feet).Abd. 1882 T. Mair John o'Arnha's Latter-Day Exploits 40:
And stoitin's feet frae lip to lip He held it plumb, and leukit up.

4. To walk in a casual, easy way, to stroll, saunter (ne.Sc., Ags. 1971).Mry. 1865 W. Tester Poems 130:
I stytit doon the ither nicht To speir for Jean an' Janet.Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton 126:
He “stoitet” out and in to the byres and stable, examining every cow, ox and horse separately.

II. n. 1. (1) A bounce, spring, rebound, as of a ball (‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); a quick, springing motion in walking, a tripping gait (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 186).

(2) A buffet, blow (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Dmf., Rxb. 1971).

(3) Fig.: the regular sequence of motions in using a tool, the rhythm of working, the proper way of doing a thing. See Stot.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
To lose or tyne the stoit, to lose the proper line of conduct.Cld. 1880 Jam.:
Ye hae na got the stoit o't yet.

(4) a casual stroll, an amble, an easy walk (ne.Sc. 1971).Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert iv.:
A wis gyaun tae tak' a styte roon the parks tae see gin the nowt be a' richt.

2. A lurch, stagger, a tottering step (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 186; Cld. 1880 Jam.; I., ne.Sc., Ags. 1971). Phr. to play stoit, to stagger, stumble.Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 164:
Fegs, wi' mony a stoit an stevel, She [a mare] rais'd a trot.Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems 68:
If ye gie a bit stoit when yer toddlin' hame.Lnk. 1881 D. Thomson Musings 118:
He play'd stoit frae side tae side.

3. A stupid, ungainly, blundering person, a blockhead (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Abd. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers 80:
Aff rows my cup aff the saucer . . . “Auld stoit!” whispers Mrs. Braidfit.s.Sc. 1837 Wilson's Tales of the Borders III. 326:
They wad be fonder than I am o' cock birds wha wad gie tippence for the stite o' a howlet.Ayr. 1896 G. Umber Ayr. Idylls 155:
A [sermon] read . . . by a styte wi' the paper close to his nose.Abd. 1915 Rymour Club Misc. II. 177:
He's jist a stupid styte.

4. Foolish talk, nonsense, stupid rubbish (Mry. 1811 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 467, styte; Abd., Kcb. 1825 Jam.; Ork., Cai., ne.Sc. 1971). Also as an exclam.Abd. 1813 D. Anderson Poems 77:
Keepin' constant chattin' Up glaekit styte atween the loons.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 14:
I haenna' time for that bumbaisin' styte.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxvii.:
Stoit, mither: fat needs ye aye gae on that gate?Abd. 1877 G. MacDonald M. of Lossie xv.:
What put sic buff an' styte i' yer heid?Kcd. 1933 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 332.:
Tales of the land that were just plain stite.Bnff. 1939 J. M. Caie Hills and Sea 48:
Some fowks say the Classics are stite.Abd. 1995 Sheena Blackhall Lament for the Raj 11:
They birled their lugs an they flashed their een
An gibbered a wheen o styte
An Davie said they war frienly-kind
Bit Mary thocht them gyte. ne.Sc. 2003 Press and Journal 15 Dec 12:
Tak Roy Lyall's sister, Edna, a grand player o the kirk organ as fowk at Skene Kirk ken weel. Edna come up wi the expression "buff an stite" which wis new tae me, bit it jist means tae spik a heap o dirt. Abd. 2005:
E MP spak a hale lot o bluff, styte an nonsense.

III. adv. With a bump, in a bouncing manner (ne.Sc., Ags., Dmf. 1971).Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 108:
Sandy's fit slippit aff the edge o' the sofa, an' he cam' stoit doon.