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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.

Covatis(e, -ice, Covetice, n. Also: covatys, -attyse, cowatis(e, -ys(e, cowaitise; covatyce, cowatice, -yce; covetise, -ettyis. [ME. covatyse, covaittise, etc., var. of coveytise, covetise, etc., OF. coveitise. Cf. Cuvatis(e.] Covetousness.(a) 1375 Barb. xii. 299.
Covatis of senȝhory Amovis thame Ib. xix. 2. c1420 Wynt. vi. 2417.
Pryd, falshad, and covatys He held at wndyr 1456 Hay I. 27/26.
The gredy covatis and avarice of the said Bartilmew Ib. 85/20; etc.
For covatis of warldis gude a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 292.
Thai … may nocht, for thair vrechitnes, Gret couatis and gredynes, Put thame in ȝouthed to profit a1500 Prestis of Peblis 344.
Thar can be na war thing Than covatis in iustice or in king c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv. 20.
The caus heirof is onlie couattyse 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 35.
To that fyne that … thay may saciat … thair botumles couatise of spoyle and thift(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 806.
The Cristine man … Blyndyt threu gret cowatise, Nyt his det Ib. xxxvi. 735.
For cowaitise A man … dalf vpe his graf c1420 Wynt. ii. 91.
Thai had na dowte Off inwy na cowatys Ib. vi. 2142.
I am sua brynnand In cowatys c1475 Wall. viii. 1624.
Off honour, trewth, and woid of cowatis(c) c1420 Ratis R. 677.
Wyninge of thaim is cowatice Ib. 1367; etc.
Thow mone forbere gret couatyce a1500 Bk. Chess 988.
Quhen a knycht in covatice is set 1533 Boece viii. v. 258 b.
He subornit ane parte of the garde … that war blindit to covatice c1552 Lynd. Mon. 123.
Houngrye couatyce, Vaine glore, dissait, and vthir sensuall vyce 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5322.
For ȝour greit couatice, Ȝour gredynes and birnand auarice 1572 Sat. P. xxxv. 26.
Ȝour Quene had pruif that Mortounis race To covatice wes hoill inclynde(d) 1567 G. Ball. 200.
Thay … hes set vp thair fals doctrine For couetice, in steid of myne a1568 Scott xxvi. 16.
All gredy personis thay misken, And thay ar full of covettyis (c 1580) Clar. v. 1833.
None covitice let them of thair disport 1587-99 Hume Epistle 163.
Skaffing clarks with couetice inspired