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.

Calfat, Calfet, v. Also: calfatt, -phat, -fut; p.t. calfitt. [F. calfater, Flem. and Du. kalfaten. Cf. Calfuterd.] tr. To make watertight by filling up seams or joints; to caulk (a vessel). 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 77.
To mak symound [= cement] to calphat the guttaris a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvi. 17.
To calfet hir oft can do non ill, And talloun quhair the flud-mark flowis 1590 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 396.
Ane stane of cuffing to calfet the seames off the kirk wall and gutteris 1594 Ib. 533.
For half ane stene wecht of cuffing to calfatt the kirk 1602 Conv. Burghs II. 143.
Gif the merchandis guidis be watt or spilt in default of ane cow-brigg and owirlupe nocht weill calfutit or handillit 1613 Soc. Ant. X. 222.
For calfing to calfat the schip Ib.
To thrie men that calfitt … the schip boit Urquhart Rabelais ii. xiii.
The plaintiff truly had just cause to calfet … the gallion