Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Smert, Sma(i)rt(e, n. Also: smartt. [ME and e.m.E. smerte, smi(e)rte (a1200), smarte (1526), f. as Smert adj. Cf. MDu. and MLG smerte, smarte.]

1. A sharp, physical pain such as might be caused by a wound, etc.; passing into the wound itself. b. fig. Passing into sense 2: Mental pain described in or associated with actual physical injury or hurt. 1513 Doug. x xiv 69.
Thocht the violens of hys sair smart [Ruddim. smert] Maid hym onfery 15.. Clar. i 122.
Ane leich … did his woundis ryp attentivelie … and bade him take gud hart For he belyve wald be helit of everie smart 1567 G. Ball. 19.
Forgif our dettis for Christis paine and smartb. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 178.
In the car hand he bair ane bludie hart Thirlit outthrow … With ane fell flane … Richt swa it did his awin body inwart Quhilk was the caus of all his sowre & smart c1677 in Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 565.
God shall give to West Monkland such an awakening, as shall make all their heads find the smart for it

2. Mental pain or suffering; anguish; sorrow. Also, const. of.(1) a1500 Quare Jel. 100.
And euir among sche cursit jelousye … Allace gret reuth hir pleynyng was to here … Than he schuld haue compassioun of hir smert a1568 Scott xviii 37.
My smert, Ingrawit in my hairt, Becaus I most depairte Frome hir presens a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 51/69.
With warldlie cair a gentill hairt is slane I feill the smert a1585 Maitl. Q. 235/20.
Gif I be fals … let me suffer smert [: part, desert, hairt](b) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 689.
I sall ȝow schaw the caus of all my smart 1567 G. Ball. 125.
Lat me nocht from thé depart My God … Sen vnto thé I schaw my smart Rycht pure and indigent a1568 Fethy in Bann. MS 235a/19.
Haif mercy vnto my pane and smarte c1590 Fowler I 90/116.
If thow ever had … pittie on my smart, Or one the panis that lowe hes ludgt within my macered breist c1590 Fowler I 183/8.
I scoure the sees Of stormye thoughts and of tempesteous smart c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxi 67.
Smartt(c) a1585 Maitl. Q. 247/3.
The cruell pain of wofull smairt Deploring great mischeif 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 37.
The endles smairte & sorrou I sustaine 1611-57 Mure Sonn. ii 8.
Smairt [: hert](2) a1500 Lanc. 1050.
So prikith hyme the smart Of hevynes, that stood vnto his hart

3. Harm, damage. 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 203.
For maintenance of our law the brak quhairoff wald infer verie great preiudice to the towne as bypast experience hes maid us to feel the smart