Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Counterfait, -feit, -fitt, v. (and p.t.). Also: cowntyr-, countyr-, and -fate, -fete, -fet, -fite. [e.m.E. counterfayte, -fait, -fit, ME. -feyt, -fete, etc., variants of conterfayt Conterfait v.] tr. To imitate; to counterfeit.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2489.
In all thingis he counterfait the dog; For all the nicht he stude and tuke na sleip 1513 Doug. v. x. 86.
Thai … countyrfatis a chays In maner of bargane Ib. xii. 20.
His helm … Quharwith … cled was he And countyrfait the maner of a melle c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 30.
Howbeit thay bene of hie estait, The quene thay suld nocht counterfait 1560 Bk. Disc. 253.
Some idiottis … dar counterfait in thair housses that which the treu ministeris do in the open congregatioun 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 362.
Thair is na Lord nor Laird in all this land, Bot ȝe man counterfait in claiths fra hand 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 160.
It is understand … that the plakkis cunyeit in the regnne of the Quene ar of late counterfaittit and adulterat 1574 Acts III. 87/2.
[Persons] using of the same [licenses to beg] knawing thame to be countirfaitit(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 271 (A).
Ane Lordis fair thus can thai counterfeit [: meit, grete] c1515 Asl. MS. I. 171/22.
I may complene … [of] mony men that in al thingis has counterfeit myne estait c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 259.
Be constant in ȝour gouernance, and counterfeit gud maneris 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 49.
Now lat ws change scheildis, … Grekis ensenȝeis do we cowntyrfeit 1533 Boece xiv. ii. 545.
With displayit baneris haistely he counterfete the armys of Scotland 1570 Sat. P. xii. 170.
With sychis and sobbis and beltit robbis Ȝe counterfite the dule 1572 Ib. xxxiii. 368.
Ȝe … can tak na rest Without ȝe counterfeit the worthyest 1580-92 James VI Lusus R. 25.
As gaes [= jays] uill counter fitt quhat sound thay heir 1615 Highland P. III. 235.
Those instrucsionis … wer not subscryuit be the lord Cancellar … neather counterfitt be him selff