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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.

Bitter, Bittir, a. Also: bittere, -yr, bytter, -yr, better. [ME. bitter, bittir, bytter, -yr, etc., OE. biter, ON. bitr.]

1. Bitter or painful to the feelings; severe.a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 338 (bittyr ded). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1593 (mony bitter panes). 1456 Hay II. 81/32 (a bitter nedefull destres). c1460 Wisd. Sol. 694 (mar bitter na the ded). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 35/10 (with bittir teris). c1475 Wall. vi. 202 (for bytter baill). 1513 Doug. i. viii. 75 (the byttir blastis); vi. Prol. 13 (the sesson bittir, cald, and paill). 1558-66 Knox II. 420 (the moist bytter tantis). 1562-3 Winȝet II. 54/1 (thai bittir seis of errouris). 1596 Dalr. I. 215/28 (this calamitie far bittirer); II. 52/16 (of angre maist bittir).

2. Bitter to the taste. (Also in fig. contexts.)c1420 Wynt. i. 688 (wattyr salt or byttyr). 1456 Hay I. 17/20 (thai evill wateris that was bitter); 20/16 (the bitter herbe is sa felloun bitter); etc. a1500 Henr. Fab. 601 (bitter as gall). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 85/2 (a bittir morsell). a1500 Doug. K. Hart 560 (the rute is bitter). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 81/22 (bitter gall). 1562-3 Winȝet II. 64/26 (bittir drinkis).