Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Art, Airt, n.² Also: arte, ayrt. [Northern ME. art (14th c.), of obscure origin. See also Airth and Arth.] A quarter or point of the compass.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. 513.
In the north art of Sythy Ib. ii. 1366 (W).
Baith thai artis … Be land partit and be se c1475 Wall. i. 309.
Westermar we will; Our kyne ar slayne, … And othir worthi mony in that art c1460 Wisd. Sol. 350.
The sonne … serclis the erd about all artis anis euery day a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1315.
Quhair euer thow ga, in eird or art, With thé … ȝit sall I neuer part 1513 Doug. i. vi. 46.
Vndir quhat art of this hevyn sa hie, Or at quhat cost of the warld … Sal we arrive Ib. iii. v. 3; etc.
Cald blastis of the northin art 1560 Rolland Seven S. 163/9.
Thir four punsiounis into four sindrie artis In Romes toun thay hid at diuers partis a1585, a1568 Montg. Minor P. xliv. 21.
As by the carte men knoues the arte, Both south, north, west, and eist 1596 Dalr. I. 55/27.
Out of quhat arte sa euir the wind blawefig. c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 174.
By this ansuer, he perceaued what art it came from(b) a1500 Doug. K. Hart 56.
Out of quhat airt that ever the wyndis blew 1535 Stewart 61227.
Of Scotland syne tha four partis tha send Into four airtis 15.. Clar. iii. 284.
Keiping the wind from everie contrair airt a1578 Pitsc. I. 336/17.
This palice … was … lightit witht fyne glassin wondowis in all airttis 1573 Sat. P. xlii. 342.
From all countries of Ingland, France, and vther partis, Quhair thay ar scatterit in all airtis 1604-31 Craig v. 5.
When … the red morning rose from the right airt 1635 Blair Autob. 106.
Like a giddy traveller, who, mistaking the airts, turns to the west for the east 1656 J. Fergusson Coloss. 137.
In all the world, that is, in all the airts and principall parts of it 1667 Highland P. II. 12.
When his natives heard of his good success they flocked to him from all airts