Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Behind, Behynd, adv. and prep. Also: behinde, behynde, beheind, beheynd, behund; behint. [ME. behinde, behynde, earlier behinden, OE. behindan (ONhb. bihianda, -hionda).]

A. adv. 1. In the rear; at the back.1375 Barb. viii. 50 (the remanand thai saw weill neir behynd cumand). c1420 Wynt. iii. 414 (sevyn harys off his hewyd behynd). 1437 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 5 (ilka tenement salbe closit behind). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 276 (weil couth I bo on him behind). 1513 Doug. i. iii. 38 (ane hyduus sey schippit at her stern behynd). a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 61 (go befoir or byde behind).

b. To leve behind, to leave in the rear; not to take along with one.c1420 Wynt. viii. 6322 (thai lefft behynd syndry than slayne). a1500 Rauf C. 65 (thow leif me not behind). 1513 Doug. v. iv. 114 (Sergest behynd sone left hes he). 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 49 (quhethir he sould tak him with him self, or leif him beheind).

c. To put, set, or leve behind, to do away with, to disregard.c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2036 (settand all schame behynd). c1420 Wynt. v. 616 (all excusatyownys put behynd). a1500 Bernardus 23 (rewle of lyffe is nocht to leff behynde).

d. In a position of disadvantage. 1599 Misc. Spald. C. V. 374.
That … he estemis him self far behind and preiugit of his honour

2. After the rest; still remaining; as a remainder.a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 456 (to brule it wes lewit be-hynde). c1420 Wynt. v. 5056 (thare suld lytill leve behynd); viii. 2432 (noucht levand behynd bot wattyr and stane). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5717 (quhat restis behynd I wald wer knawin). a1570-86 Maitland M. Fol. xxiii. 24 (ȝit behind thow hes aneuche of land). 1600-1610 Melvill 457 (whowbeit an … war away, ther might be anew behind).

3. Afterwards; subsequently. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 270.
For Natur … lukis nocht quhat may cum behind

B. prep. 1. At the back of; in the rear of.Behind bak or bakkis: see Bak n. 2 c.1375 Barb. viii. 60 (behinde thame stoppit vas the vay). a1400 Leg. S. vi. 356 (the lanterne borne behynd hym). c1420 Wynt. ii. 506 (lat behynd ws stanys kast). 1456 Hay II. 161/11 (the Sarrazen gert [him] lepe on behynd him). c1475 Wall. iii. 393 (Wallace raturnyde behynde his men agayne). 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 49 (behynd the boys of his bukleir). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1344 (pas behind him). 1546 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 123 (ane before the mast and vther behind). 1563 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 247 (before thir wordis nor behinde). a1578 Pitsc. II. 180/3 (he was found behinde the quens bede). 1593 St. A. Kirk S. 867 (at hir stair behund the kirk).

b. Inferior to.1570 Leslie 71 (the Scottis men war nocht beheynd bot far abone the Inglis men in appareill).

2. After the departure or decease of.c1420 Wynt. v. 3053 (deputys behynd hym he lefft to keipe Brettayne). 1513 Doug. ix. vi. 116 (behynd thame mony brycht armour thai left). 1570 Leslie 22 (he wes at Rome, and left beheynd him his brodir). a1578 Pitsc. I. 409 (this prince left meikill riches behynd him).

3. Behind the hand: see Hand n.