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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.

Follow, Folow(e, v. Also: follov, fol(l)ou, follo; folaw, folw-, folv-; foulow; fowlow. [ME. follow(e, folow(e, folew(e, early folwe, folȝe, OE. folᵹian. Cf. Fallow v. and Folȝe v.]

I. intr. 1. To go or come behind or after. Occas. with on or to. 1375 Barb. vi. 405.
Than Thrillwall … followit fast eftir the ky c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1972.
The laif of the schippis … , That followit nixt in the navyne c1420 Wynt. viii. 3927.
The Inglis men folowyd on the chas c1475 Wall. i. 228.
His men folowid on Wallace wondyr sar 1513 Doug. iii. v. 10.
The wollyt scheip him followyng at the bak 15.. Christis Kirk 287.
Than followit feymen rycht on-affeird 1596 Dalr. I. 165/11.
Thay fercelie follow to the Scottistransf. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiii. 17.
Follow on petie, fle truble and debait a1500 Rauf C. 508.
Thow fand me fechand nathing that followit to feid

b. To continue, go on. c1475 Wall. i. 280.
I will folow apon my proces haile

2. To come subsequently as a sequel or result. 1375 Barb. xii. 190.
I trow that gud ending Sall follow till our begynnyng c1420 Wynt. v. 3853.
That nowther sall folow syn na schayme Ib. viii. 5212.
Than suld sum prys folow ws to c1460 Wisd. Sol. 776.
The ful … takis nocht tent, quhat folowis efter c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 1.
Off every asking followis nocht Rewaird 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 160.
Na punitioun hes followit upoun the dissobeyaris 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 28.
His freindis … wer … gevin to injustice quhair gayne followit

3. To come after in time. Usually in pres. pple. followand, following. a 1350 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. 14.
Per sex vero annos immediate sequentes [gl. foluand] 1375 Barb. v. 308.
The thrid day eftir followand 1393 Reg. Morton II. 193.
At the tyme of Martimes next folowande c1420 Wynt. ii. 308.
Sewyn yher owt contynnand Wyth othir sevyn nest folowand 1456 Hay I. 152/11.
For a hale ȝere folowand Ib. II. 112/16.
The somere next folowand 1482 Bamff Chart. 31.
Betuex this and the Assumpcion Day of oure Laidy nexit folowand 1549 Douglas Corr. 173.
In the dawing of the day nixt following

4. To come later in order or sequence. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 1.
Off Sanct Andrew now folouys next 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
In fourme the qwylk eftir folowys c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1179.
In one & thretty book folowand 1456 Hay I. 289/7.
As is contenyt in certane versis that folowis c1515 Asl. MS. II. 149/2.
Heir followis the maner of the crying of ane playe 1533 Gau 61/12.
As Christis wordis quhilk folwis schawis manifestlie 1562-3 Winȝet II. 30/17.
In the places follouing of the samin epistil 1570 Irvine Mun. I. 56.
Foulowes the effect of my commission

b. In phr. as efter followis, efter followand. 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/1.
The forsayd lordes are acordit … as efter folowes 1428 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 460.
This indentur made … in maner efter folouond 1454 Rep. Southesk MSS. 8.
This is the copy of the Kyngis lettrez … as eftir folovis 1531 Reg. Dunferm. 362.
In maner, forme, and effect as efter followis 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 293.
The decreit wes pronuncit and red as foll[ow]es

5. To come as a consequence. 1456 Hay I. 224/30.
It folowis nocht … that his sonis ar anoblyt 1562-3 Winȝet I. 125/7.
It follouis of the grete punisment temporall, that [etc.]

II. tr. 6. To go after (a person, animal, etc.). 1375 Barb. vi. 410.
The cattale followit he gude speid Ib. vii. 38.
He … furth in hy followit the king a1400 Leg. S. iv. 324.
Folow thai bese [= beasts], till thai blyne Of thar awne wil Ib. xxiii. 391.
Dere sir, folouyse me 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2.
Men folwand thar gudes with hond or with horn c1420 Wynt. iv. 1006.
The fowlis wyld … That fey court ay folowyd nere 1490 Irland Mir. I. 116/32.
The multitud of thame that sal folou him c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 82.
Thair followit him ane vglie sort c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 775.
In the Inglis schip … They followit all thair capitane a1578 Pitsc. I. 202/9.
Sum of thir consperatouris … followit fast the king to Leythttransf. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 940.
The rede blude … folowit the blaid

7. fig. To act in imitation of or in accordance with; to take as a pattern, example, or authority. a1400 Leg. S. xl. 235.
Prese we for to folou hyme c1420 Wynt. iii. 19.
Oure eldrys we sulde folowe … , That thaire tyme in wertu set 1456 Hay II. 102/37.
Suppose thou be a king … ȝitart thou bot a man and mankynde mon folow c1420 Ratis R. 317.
Exill all wyce, and folow treuthe alway 1490 Irland I. 25/9.
Sene he is oure fader. we suld folow him in oure thocht 1535 Stewart 14027.
As brutell beist that followis appetyte 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 58.
Quhair in he has followit to muche sum of your Inglis writaris

8. a. To pursue (a person) at law. 14.. Acts I. 362/2.
Gif he that is folowyt beis ourcumin he sal ansuer to the folowar of al his scathis apon him done 1443 Reg. Great S. 86/1.
Gilbert Menzeis … folowit Johne of Tulch … vpone a some of viij score of pundis c1475 Wall. iv. 123.
Thai folowit him of felouny that was wrocht 1483 Acta Conc. II. Introd. 101.
Because James Bonar gert [summond] him and comperit nocht to folow him 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 209/1.
Soumes … that thai may be accusit or followit of criminably or cively 1579 Inverness B. Rec. I. 266.
Ye ar followit for barralling of talloun and … plukking of skynnis 1622-6 Bisset I. 229/24.
The persewer quha compeiris nocht to follow his pairtie sall pay the expenssisabsol. 1425 Acts II. 9.
The party scathit sall folowe, and the party trespassande sall defende 1505 Liber Aberbr. 356.
With ful power to follow and persev … befoir quhatsumeuir iuge or iugis it be seyn speidful c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 162.
I stand content As pleis ȝourgrace to follow or declame

b. To pursue or prosecute (a suit or claim); to claim as legally due. To follow a borch, see Borch n. 4 (3). 1424 Acts II. 8.
Gif thar be ony pur creatur that for defalte of cunnyng or dispens can nocht … folow his caus 1455 Edinb. Chart. 81.
To send … twa or thre personis to folow and persew the defalt made to ony man … of Edynburgh 1462 Misc. Spald. C. V. 286.
To follow and pursue the said wodset … and males bypast of it to obtein and exerce 1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. 116.
To persew and follov the sade bref 1504 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 49.
Ane stak of aits followit and clamyt be the said Jhonne Rede 1523 Carwath Barony Ct. 2.
[They] folloit the laird of the newk for to releif thaim of the borrowis that thai war for Jhon Somerwell

9. To come after (a certain date). 1460 Peebles B. Rec. 135.
For all the termys of sewynten ȝeris nest and togeder folouand the dat of this present wryt 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 327.
At the Martimes … foluand the dat of thir presents 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 77.
Within viij dayes next following this day 1520 Maxwell Mem. 245.
Sevyn ȝeris next and immediatly fowlowyn the dait of this present 1559 Prestwick B. Rec. 10.
The town & fredom to be red betuix and Beltane next to cum, followand the dayt of this wryt

10. a. To continue upon (a course). a1400 Leg. S. xl. 230.
He … that of God had sa gret grace, That ay folouyt thus his trace

b. To follow furth, to follow up, prosecute, go on with. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2227.
Sa happinnit him … Airlie in the morning to follow furth his feir 1570 Leslie 164.
The King of Ingland … micht thairwith folowe furth his victorye 1599 Conv. Burghs II. 47.
[The convention] ordanis the brugh to walkin the saidis suspensiouns and follow furth the samyn 1618 Stirling B. Rec. II. 151.
That the barganes offerit … of thair mylnes … salbe hard, considderit, & followet furth

11. To accompany, be connected with. c1420 Ratis R. 108.
Gret mischef folowis al vynyng c1460 Thewis Gud Women 6.
Sum ill maneris and thewis, That folowis ful women & schrewis