Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Credit, Credeit, Crydit, n. Also: credite, -yte, -ytt, creddit(e, credet, (creaded), cradeit, cridet, crydet(t. [e.m.E. crededit, -ite, -yte (1542), OF. credit, L. crēditum.]

1. Belief, faith, trust. Usu. in to give credit. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 111/8.
With purpois to haue gevin na credit to thir ymaginaciouns 1549 Compl. 82/22.
The Inglismen gifis ferme credit to diuerse prophane propheseis of Merlyne 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 274.
Thay seek no ferther credyte bot quhen thay aggre with the Scripturis 1575 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 112.
The buik of the Makabeis … wes not the ditment of the spreit of God, and sua na cradeit aucht to be gevin thairto a1578 Pitsc. II. 291/8.
Never ane gave credeit to ane vther, bot evirie man raid in feir of weer

2. Evidence or testimony of being accredited. 1545 Bk. Carlaverock II. 25.
I persave that ȝe think the credit sent fra me be John Dowglas to be of [our] greit importance to be sent by moutht 1558 Corr. M. Lorraine 430.
We ressavit your grace writingis … fra the berar and hes hard his cridet at lynth 1606 Highland P. III. 87.
I am enforceit to mak the samyn [supplicatioun] be a mediat persone, quhomeby I haif gewin credeit

3. Reputation, repute, or standing, in respect of reliability, honesty, etc.(a) 1558-66 Knox II. 266/7.
Thair credytt was defaced at the handis of suche as befoir war not eschamed to have used thair counsall 1567 Sat. P. xvi. 26.
Fra he in court in credite grew He did ay change the court anew 1584 Waus Corr. I. 286.
I haif nocht mekle credite in that toun of burges men(b) 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 47.
Seing the Erll Bothvile cum in credeit he flatterit him a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. lxxxviii. 29.
The moir planelie thair poysone thai expres, The les thai caus thair credeit to incres 1614 Highland P. III. 164.
My sut now … is to wndirstand … what schalbe my credeit 1621 Crim. Trials III. 502.
Ine ane singular combat, quhairvnto the said Capitan Harie was vrged and drawin by the grittest respectis of credeit(c) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 329.
Undir the pane of … tinsall of perpetuall honour, estimatioun, honestie, and crydett 1583 Wemyss Corr. 79.
All the moyane and crydite I hef salbe extendit in the Lairdis favour c 1588 Cath. Tr. 252/21.
In … all uther places whair ye haue gotten crydet 1620 Rec. Aboyne 261.
Therefter all wrytis … sall have no faythe nor crydet quhaire evir they be fand 1641 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 70.
Robert Ross is becum cautioner and souertie … for her crydet, lawtie and honestie

b. Good faith; trustworthiness. 1567 Sat. P. xxxvi. 77.
How could thow keip thy credit to ane other? 1596 Dalr. II. 264/20.
Sum … notable persounes ar elected … to quhais creddit and faithfulnes … the Quene is commendet Ib. 375/9.
Quhilk … makes mekle to the credit of the hail historie

4. Trust or charge committed to one; care or custody. 1558-66 Knox III. 55.
He hes send writtingis to my Lord of Arrane, with ane servand in creddite, to assure him of his assistance 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 6.
Maister Johnne hes trewlie … dischargeit his charge and devoir in the materis committit to his credit a1578 Pitsc. II. 237/16.
Ane serwand of my lord regentis quha … had gret creddit of all his secreittis and wreittingis 1622-6 Bisset I. 268/14.
Sum ane … quhome he sall think meit to commit the cair, credeit, and diligence of this mater unto 1636 St. A. Baxter Bks. 52.
Forsameikle as the servants … hes the whole credit of thair maister's stuff and everie guid and gear a1651 Calderwood II. 403.
William Dowglas … had the credite of the keyes manie times

5. Lending on trust. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 480.
There is no credeit, bot of necessitie The pure broder, for hunger he man die Ib. ii. 49.
Credit and frist is quyte away. No thing is lent bot for usure