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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.

Emot(t, Emmot, n. Also: nemot, emet, emmet. [ME emot(e, emete, OE. ǽmete. Cf. Imat.] An emmet, an ant. a1400 Leg. S. iv. 137.
Na mycht haff we To grewe the thing at twechis thé, Na, nocht a nemot [L. formicam] 1456 Hay II. 131/4.
The emotis gaderis to thair provisionis for aganis the wynter to thair nestis Ib. 157/26.
Sum man [is] wys as a bee or ane emot a1497, 15.. Gray MS. vi. 63.
Full oft is sene Thir emotis in ane hillok ay Rinnand oute befor thin ene 1513 Doug. iv. vii. 80.
Lyke emmotis [Sm. emetis] grete Quhen thai depulȝe the mekill byng of quhete c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1708.
Lyke … emottis travelling in to June, Sum under wrocht, and sum abone 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xvi. 27.
The emmet, and bee … buries their dead, but without their hyuesattrib. 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 70.
Ane cleirly coit maid … Of emmot skynis 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. x. § 9.
An ant or emmot-hill