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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.

Fault, n. Also: fawlt. [ME. fault, faulte (15th c.), OF. faulte, var. of faute Faut n. Cf. Falt n.]

1. = Faut n. 1. 1456 Hay I. 52/26.
The ladyes … gaderit stanis to defend the citee, for fault of men of armes Ib. 241/25.
The pure peple quhilkis deis of hunger … for. fault of justice c1460 Consail Wys Man 421.
Fault of frendis chaistisinge Garris barnis oft mak ill endinge 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. 36.
He is in amerciament for fault of enteris [to the court] a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 442.
For fault of puissance … thou mon pak thé 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 185.
War nocht that … I had sauld my hors for fawlt of money 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8520.
For fault of fude, wemen and men deceist 1594 Misc. Bann. C. III. 170.
Being sair trauellit and weryit for fault of meit & refresching

b. absol. Want of means or food. 1478 Peebles B. Rec. 184.
Jhonet … [h]as sawld … for fawlt and gert necessite … , a met almery [etc.] 1623 Kinghorn Kirk-S. 23.
The poore being in so grit necessitie that thai ar perisching for fault

2. = Faut n. 2. 1456 Hay I. 170/32.
That God will punys thame for sum faultis by-past Ib. 236/7.
And thai had maid ony fault … thay may be of that thing … chalangit be law 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 210.
Vnder the panis of … the daling of thair aill, for the secund fault 1567 G. Ball. 92.
Thay nurtour me, my faultis to knaw 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 890.
If thai be fund in the lyik fault heireftir, … thai salbe punished

b. Failure to appear … 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8773.
Nane in his absence His fault suppleit, norȝit gaif attendence

3. A flaw or defect. 1456 Hay I. 269/4.
And [= if] his suerd for sum alde fault … war brokin in the felde fechtand