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: 1456, 1513-1612
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Bit, Byt, n.1 Also: bitt, bytt. [ME. bit, byt, bitte, bytt, var. of bite, byte, OE. bite bite, biting, ON. bit.]
1. A horse's bit. (Cf. bridill bit.) 1456 Hay II. 49/15.
His coursere … has bridill gevin till him, with irne bytt in the mouth 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 11.
Hyr fers steyd … Rungeand the fomy goldyn byt 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 4.
The Regent is als cauld as the bitt in my horse mouth 1612 Bk. Rates 290.
Bitts for brydillis the dozen, viii li.
2. An act of biting; a bite. 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 24.
Athir serpent … with thar cruell byt … tuke mony sary morcell 1513 Ib. xii. xii. 151.
The hund … at hym makis a snak, The byt oft falȝeis 1531 Bell. Boece II. 109.
This king fell in ane … maledy, uncertane quhidder it come be bit of the wolf 1533 Boece, ix. xvi. 330.
Gif it was be bit of the wolf
3. The cutting or piercing action of a weapon.In both passages rhyming with hyt = hit p.p. 1513 Doug. iv. ii. 44.
Ane strykkyn hynd … skypping furth, as to eschew the byt 1513 Ib. xii. vi. 187.
[He] Smait hym a grewos wond and dedly byt
4. A bit for piercing or boring. c1590 J. Stewart 39/332.
His bruisit bit vas vorne so rustie blont
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"Bit n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bit_n_1>
