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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1438, 1495, 1567-1578
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Frist, Frest, n. [ME. frist, frest, varr. of first, ferst, OE. first, fyrst, First n.2, ON. frest.]
1. Delay. Usu. in phr. but or forout(in) frist. 1375 Barb. vii. 447.
With that thair bowis avay thai kest, And com on fast but langar frest 1375 Ib. 547. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxii. 364.
He gert hed hyme forout fryst [:wist] a1400 Ib. xxvii. 1199.
Sanct Machor foroutyn freste [:reste] Folouyt a1400 Ib. xi. 70.
His fadir send but friste [:wiste] Medicinaris c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2491.
He … fell dovne tene steppis but frist, Or euir he mycht tak arrest ?1438 Alex. ii. 8588.
The fourt he slew foroutin frist [:rest] ?1438 Ib. 9299.
Gaudefeir, forouttin frest, Come with fyue thousand armit men a1578 Pitsc. I. 225/25.
Thir lordis war were blyth, thinkand that all ewill was guid of frist
2. Allowing time for payment. To frist, on credit. 1495 Halyb. 107.
[I] sald tham to fryst to a man of the Hag a1568 Peder Coffeis 43.
Ane dyvour coffe … Takis gudis to frist fra fremmit men, And brekis his obligatioun c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 49.
Credit and frist is quyte away, No thing is lent bot for usure
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"Frist n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/frist_n>
