A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
S(c)ham(e)fast(e, adj. [ME and e.m.E. shammfasst (Orm), shamefast (Wyclif), OE sc(e)amfæst; S(c)ham(e n.] Bashful, modest.(1) a1561 Norvell Meroure 59b.
My ennimies fand me, neuer agast, Nor yet my freindes: but humble and shamfast 1563 Lekpreuik in Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 200.
[The author is] a man shamefast of his owen nature 1596 Dalr. I 213/5.
Neuir a matrone sa schamefaste quhome he defylet nochtcompar. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 8/28.
They either (if they be of the shamefaster sort) … or else being of the grosser sort [etc.](2) c1590 Fowler II 10/13.
I rather confesse my imbecillitie heirin by schamefast silence, then [etc.] 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 9.
Hir schamefast, blusching smyles quho ever sies Id. Dido & Æneas ii 681.
For thee alone, my shamefast lyf I brack, And fame I lost
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Shamfast adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/schamefaste>