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

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

Soft, adj. Also: softe, sofft, saft(e. [ME and e.m.E. softe (1154), soft (Cursor M.), soffte (Orm), OE sōfte, sōft, varr. of sēfte, MDu. soft, saft.]

I. 1. Of something said: Soothing, gentle. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 496.
For-thi scho gluterit hyme … With wysing fare & wordis softe, Til fraudfully [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xlv 46. 1513 Doug. xiii ii 66.
He … With soft spech furth gan thir wordis draw a1568 Scott iii 47.
Be soft of speiche, bot spair nocht till asselȝie

2. Of persons, their actions, etc. a. Merciful, gentle, moderate.(1) 1533 Bell. Livy I 68/9.
Na pepill was sa gracius and soft in pvnissing of thare transgressouris or subdittis as thai wer 1533 Bell. Livy I 169/2.
Seruilius … ane man of mare soft ingyne, said the myndis of pepill mycht be mare eselie bowit than brokin 1533 Gau 75/20.
Faith makis vsz lawlie soft pacient a1538 Abell 72a.
At naturalie the women is mair soft and peteous na the man 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8612.
All men him lude for his greit courtasie His gentilnes and his humanitie: He was sa soft, sa humbill and mansweit [etc.] a1568 Henry Stewart in Bann. MS 87b/35.
Be to rebellis strong … Be to thy liege men bayth soft and meik(b) 1596 Dalr. II 223/20.
This king … saw that as seueir punisment drewe vicious persounis frome vice; sa to be saft, and ouersie, prouokes thame daylie mair(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II 493.
Sen thow … will not be rewlit be my soft empire, I sall bring him hame that sal chaistifie yow

b. Lacking fortitude; weak, compliant. Also transf. 1531 Bell. Boece I xiii.
Be pleseir sensuall This Duk wes maid so soft and deligait, That [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II 493.
He wes ane soft prince; but ony fortitude in adversite or temporance in prosperite 1533 Boece 255.
Ȝe haue experience how facill Britouns ar to move new bruleȝeis … and how soft to perfurnis thare interprise quhare thai se ane partie present 1535 Stewart 21390.
Planctius quhilk wes ane rycht soft man, Without ingyne or jeopardie in weir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5366.
Sa barnelike and soft thay ȝow persaue 1558 Knox IV 387.
Womankinde is imprudent and soft (or flexible) … softe she is because she is easelie bowedtransf. 1531 Bell. Boece II 147.
His febill and soft administration, wes haldin in … derision

II. Of non-material things.

3. Of the signs of the Zodiac: Kindly, benign. 1375 Barb. iv 697.
Coniunctione of planetis And quhethir that thair cours thaim settis In soft segis, or in angry

4. a. Of weather, seasons, etc.: Pleasant, not harsh or cold, mild. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1696.
In-to the holl of wyntir … Vpon a soft day and a bricht c1450-2 Howlat 7 (A).
So soft was the sessoun a1500 Henr. Fab. 1713 (Bann.).
That samin seasoun into a soft morning; Rycht blyith thai bitter blastis wer ago [etc.] a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 97.
The nicht is soft and dry, The wedder is warme and fair c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 247.
Suete war the vapouris, soft the morowing 1513 Doug. i vii 27.
In soft somyr the brycht son hait schynyng 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 455.
This harvest and forewinter was fair, soft pleasant weather

b. Of wind, rain, etc.: Gentle, pleasant, not strong or heavy.(a) 1456 Hay II 128/5.
The ayer is mare soft and the weder commonly mare plesant na ony othir tyme c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 519.
The soft sowch of the swyr 1513 Doug. iii ii 3.
The softe piping wynd 1549 Compl. 58/30.
Soft & varme schouris 1549 Compl. 61/13.
The … southyn vynd … generis thondir … smal soft ranis 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Aura, ane soft air(b) 1596 Dalr. II 238/10.
[He] landes at Leith … with a safte winde the xix day of Maii

5. Of pace or movement: Leisurely, easy, smooth; slow, unhurried. 1456 Hay II 8/11.
My pallefray throu his soft passing gave me curage to slepe 1460 Hay Alex. 3602.
Soft and fare ȝit was the futemen ay Vnto the toun of Tyre drivand the pray 1513 Doug. vi iii 82.
Thai [sc. doves] … gan flychtir furth a space, Half stalkand on the grond a soft pace

6. Not onerous, easily borne. 1456 Hay II 54/10.
The quhilk cheritee makis hevy birding lycht to bere and grete charge soft

7. Pleasing to the taste; not bitter or sharp. a1500 Henr. Practysis 60.
The harnis of ane haddok [etc.] … With ane brewing caldrun full of hait caill For it wilbe the softar and sweittar of the smak

8. Of sleep: Restful, soothing. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxv 9.
For weirines on me ane slummer soft Come 1587-99 Hume 44/91.
He makes the physicke take effect, the slummers soft he geifis

III. Of material things.

9. a. In early use as a place-name element: ? Boggy. c1354 Liber Calchou 382.
Tenementum de Westirsoftelaw 1358 Reg. Episc. Glasg. I 257.
Westirsoftlau 1363 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 283.
Johannes de Softelaw

b. Of surface texture: Not hard, harsh or abrasive to the touch. c1420 Wynt. v 250.
Maydynnys, yhong, and sofft Off hyd a1500 Seven S. 727.
Ane herbe … Sa fair sa fragrant & sa soft c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 28.
Ladeis … Quhyt, seimlie and soft as the sweit lillies 1513 Doug. xi ii 29.
Or the soft violet that doys freschly schyne 1531 Bell. Boece I viii.
[He] Awalkis heir amang the flouris soft 1531 Bell. Boece I xiii
Sardanapall the prince effeminat … With fingaris soft amang the ladyis sat 15.. Wyf Awcht. 29.
Ȝeis lay ane soft wisp to the kill 1551 Hamilton Cat. 196.
Oyle olyve quhilk persis and entres in mannis flesch and makis it soft c1620 Boyd Fl. Zion Exc. xxii/1.
Tender ladies, with soft velvet loof, Must now be servants

c. Of cloth: Soft to the touch; flexible, supple. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 96.
Soft and soupill as the silk 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2094.
Coirdis … Of gyd hempt soft & sound 1567 G. Ball. 196.
Veluote soft a1568 Sempill in Bann. MS 126a/26.

d. Of or as of a bed: Yielding to the weight of a person's body and bearing it in comfort.(a) 1456 Hay II 133/28.
To slepe eftir mete apon a soft bed c1490 Porteous Noblenes 61/4 (Ch. & M.).
Quhat is ane man worth … that will haue ane soft bed [etc.] 1513 Doug. vii i 157.
On quhais soft flesys … The kyng down liggis for that nyghtis bed(b) 1596 Dalr. II 124/17.
A saft bed, with fair couerings

e. Of lead: Easily marked with a tool. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 146.
The pictour and image of ane man, ingravit in soft leid

f. fig. Of the heart, etc.: Influenced by love, pity, etc. 1513 Doug. viii vii 44.
That hait fyre sle Of luf … Persand the banys maid soft on every syde 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 88.
To pray … that God wald inform, mollifie and mak soft the hartis of our soueranis a1585 Maitl. Q. 210/72.
The hardest hairt be it assailȝit oft With sueit meiknes it may be makin soft

10. Of a musical instrument: Producing a soft or gentle sound; not loud. c1450-2 Howlat 757 (A).
The psaltery the sytholis the soft sytharist c1450-2 Howlat 767 (A).
Cymbaclauis … That soundis so soft a1585 Maitl. Q. 155/73.
Hir lillie lyire so soft and sound

11. Of water, the sea, etc.: Still, calm. 1513 Doug. viii ii 46.
The streme bakwartis vpflowys soft and still 1535 Stewart 35143.
Ane schip that mycht nocht weill defend, Suppois the se wes neuir so soft and sound

12. Of fire: Moderate, gentle.Only in proverbs. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 105.
The malte is newer sweet wnles the fire be soft a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1352.
Soft fyre maks sueit malt

13. Of a place: Enjoying a mild climate. c1590 Fowler I 62/128.
Thair lyes ane ile delectable more plesant, plane and soft Than anye vther ile