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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.

Faut, Fawt, n. Also: faute, fawte. [ME. fawt(e, faut, faute (c 1290), OF. faute fem., faut masc. Cf. Fault n. and Falt n.]

1. Lack, want (of something).(a) 1375 Barb. vi. 345 (E).
That war wondir for to fal, Na war faute off discretioun Ib. ix. 318.
He … swagate has the castell tane, Throw faute off wach a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 84.
Scho nedit for to kepe, Fore faut of helpe, ilke day schepe 14.. Acts I. 336/2.
The tailȝeouris … mak our mekil refus … of mennis claith … for faut of cunnyng 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 114.
John Wilson dempstar wardit Wil Geddes in a defaut for faut of perans c1475 Wall. viii. 20.
Her is gret faute off a gud prince or kyng 1514 Rec. Earld. Orkney 88.
He … maid knawin that he was fameist … in faute of fude, and nakit in faut of clething 1528 Lennox Mun. 231.
Beand of na strenth, force, nor affec, wythout it be in faut of payment(b) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 88.
For to here hym wes sik prese, That fawt of rowme gret thar wes Ib. xxvii. 792.
Wit ȝe … That we haf gret fawt of drynk c1420 Wynt. i. 734.
To be thare mete … In fawt of fude at thai noucht fayle Ib. iv. 985.
For fawte of rowme his mekyll mycht Kest down hillys hey on hycht 1477 Peebles B. Rec. 182.
Gyff thai wald … fynd hym his mysteris qwhylk that stud hym in gret necessite and fawt of his lewyng

2. A fault (of commission or omission). In faut, in fault.(a) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 387.
Thai fynd sone fautis to thar frend, And fenȝeis caus to be vnkind 1490 Irland Mir. I. 114/28.
Sen the trespassour knawis the faut, this is now werray ressoun & equite c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 456.
Folk ... that ... has na colouris for to cover thair awne kindly favtis 1578 Waus Corr. I. 185.
I wald nocht wit your L to be ony wayis in faut 1596 Dalr. I. 96/4.
Quhilke thing … can nocht be laid as a faute to thame(b) 1375 Barb. iii. 298.
Giff it fall he thar-off failȝe, The fawt may be in his trawailȝe a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 255.
That in hyre fawwt sic a barne The tothyr tyme [wes] sa forfarne

b. An offence; a misdemeanour. 1432 Ayr B. Ct. Bk. MS.
The qwilk day Jhonn of Soflaw in a faut for he enterit nocht Thom Mason [etc.] 1458 Peebles B. Rec. 128.
That ony brosstar that brak prys the fyrst faut [sal pay] a galon of al 1490 Irland Mir. I. 91/27.
Bot geve [= unless] … synnis, fautis, and crymys [were] punyst be justice 1503 Acts II. 242/2.
[They shall] deliuer the said child to the juge to be leschit, scurgit, and dovng according to his faut 1592 Lanark B. Rec. 109.
As for the faut committed be Katte Sandelandis … ordanis hir … to be put in the govis 1642 Rec. Old Aberd. II. 17.
If she was ever founde in any sick faut againe to be punished

c. A fine or penalty. 1622-6 Bisset I. 116.
The clerk of the register … to gif the names of the absentis of that oulk … for uplifting of the fautis of the absentis

3. A defect or flaw. c1420 Wynt. iii. 943.
Falaris … gert hym all the fawtys mend That mycht be sene off it c1420 Ratis R. 506.
Ȝhit has he hecht … Tyll rais al men, … lewand ilk ane, And al perfyt, and fawt nane