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.
Quotation dates: 1438, 1499-1533
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Avant, Awant, n. [ME. avaunt (14th c.), avant, from Avant v.1] Vaunting or boasting; a vaunt or boast. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2281.
War nocht that men wald it let, Or to auant or rusing set a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 448.
Off micht he grew maikles, As to fecht for awant With antelop or oliphant 1513 Doug. vii. iv. 34.
With gret avant … thame hard I say [etc.] 1513 Ib. xi. xiii. 133.
This wyndy glore, voust, or avantis 1533 Bell. Livy I. 203/2; 1533 Ib. II. 95/21.
The Veanis … made thare avant with grete mynassing to sege Rome
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"Avant n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/avant_n>
