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 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Derth, v. [e.m.E. dearth, ME. derthyn (c 1440), f. Derth,n.] tr. To make dear in price. Also derthing vbl. n. 1480 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 37.
That ilk nychtbour haif his pairt thairof … vpoun the samyn price … , swa that it sall nocht be regratit na derthit vpoun the nychtbouris 1558-66 Knox I. 404.
Far less [is it] abill … to susteane thowsandis of strangearis … to the derthing of all viweris 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 407.
That all maner of flescheoures … bring and present all thair flesche … to be sawld in oppin merket and nocht hurdit in thair buithis to derth the merkets 1650 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 227.
Dearthing the victuall ... by howsing great store thairof within the custome hows