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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.

Arrest, Arest, n. Also: arreste, areste, arreist, areist. [ME. areste, arreste, ar(r)est (14th c.), OF. areste, arest, med.L. arresta.]

1. Stop, halt, stay.1375 Barb. vii. 63 (he arest vald ma); viii. 356 (forouten arest). a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 256 (arest has he tane); xl. 913 (but areste). c1420 Wynt. viii. 3436 (the Scottis men arest tuk thare). 1513 Doug. iv. v. 119 (but arest).

2. Arrest, apprehension; attachment.1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccxi (areste na undoing). 1456 Hay I. 173/29 (to kepe that arreste). 1495 Liber Aberbr. 289 (vndyr the arrest). 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 254/2 (but ony attaich or arreist). 1540 Edinb. Chart. 212 (the arreist maid vpoun the schip). 1558-66 Knox II. 389 (when he hes laid on his areist). 1641 Baillie I. 339.
He supplicat that the Lords might take course to louse that arriest from ... his goods