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 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wortis, n. pl. [ME and e.m.E. wurten (Layamon), worten (1297), wortis (c1400), woortes (1605), OE wyrt root, plant.] Plants, herbs; vegetation; greens. — c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 156.
The haire … that oft gooth to the wortis 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 157.
Phebus red fowle hys corall creist can steir, Oft strekyng furth hys hekkill, crawand cleir, Amyd the wortis and the rutys gent c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xiii 32.
A corn of syneuey … the quhilk is the leest of all seedis; bot quhen it has waxine, it is the mast of al wortis and is made a tre c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. xiv 2.
For ane vthirman beleues that he may ete all thingis; bot he that is seek, ete wortis (or caal)