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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bakward, Bakwart, adv. and a. Also: bakwarde, backward, -wart; bakvard, -vart, -uart. [ME. bakward (c 1300), bacwarde, etc., reduced from abakward. In Sc. the usual ending is -wart.]

1. adv. Backwards.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 626 (he backward fell doun); viii. 56 (sum in the furde thai bakward bare). c1420 Wynt. i. 1109 (fra the sowth it bakwarde strekys). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1422 (he send him backward to Dumbar). 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 128 (ane pair of slevis flypand bakward). a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxviii. 10 (thir lynis ȝe may reid bakward or fordward).(b) a1400 Leg. S. vi. 164 (puttinge of the fend bakvart); xl. 650 (bakwart stud heile & ta). 1456 Hay I. 180/12 (sa ȝede ordour bakwart); II. 129/22 (as the crabbe gais backwart). c1450-2 Howlat 498 (he braid throw the batallis and bur thaim bakwart). a1500 Henr. Orph. 567 (thocht he bakwart cast nocht his myndis E). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 75 (I dreid that bakwart it is turnit agane). 1513 Doug. v. xii. 79 (lat ws follow that way, bakwart or fordwart). 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 706 (we sall saye the auld Placebo bakwart). 1549 Compl. 6/6 (ther durst none pas bakuart nor forduart). a1578 Pitsc. II. 38/6 (that they war all returnit and fled bakwart). 1598 Misc. Spald. C. I. 120 (thow tuik a cat and pat hir bakvart throw the hesp).

b. ellipt. = Return, repayment. 1557 Peebles B. Rec. 236.
William … desyrit bakwart of the said sovme mair nor he aucht till haif geving

2. adj. Perverse, contrary. 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 66/3.
Quhy ar ye sua bakvard, that … ye institute the same on the Sounday 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 136.
Thair salbe men … vithout benignitie, tratouris, bakvart, prydful