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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Eldest, Eldast, a. Also: eldeste, -aste, -ayst, heldast. [ME. eldest, -ast, eld-, ealdeste, OE. (Angl.) eldest(a, ældest(a, (WS.) yldest(a.]

1. Of members of a family: Oldest, first-born. Freq. with sone and douchter.(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 71.
He callit his son till him in hy, The eldest and apperande air
1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 138*.
Prynce Robart, … and his eldeste sune John eryl of Carryke
c1420 Wynt. ii. 185.
He gat sonnys twa, Esaw callyd the eldest, And luwyt wes wytht the fadyre best
Ib. vi. 327.
This eldest brodyre Karoloman Till halynes all gawe hym than
1456 Hay II. 30/19.
A traytour that betraisis his … eldest sone
a1500 Henr. Fab. 255.
The eldest wes the gyde and vent beforne
1539 Stirlings of Keir 364.
Mergrat Boquhanane, eldest doichtare of … Patrik Boquhanane
a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxvi. 9.
The eldest brother was na fule
1596 Dalr. I. 237/18.
Ferquhard, the eldest of King Eugenies sones, is crounit king
(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 104.
His heldast douchtyre than alswyth He wedyt wele
Ib. xxxi. 46.
Auyte the eldaste wes & ayr, & Fergusium the ȝongare bruthir
1396 Scot. Ant. XIV. 217.
The sayd lorde Erle sal gif to the sayd Scher Jone Elizabeth his eldast douchter tylhis wyfe
c1420 Wynt. i. 525.
Tyll Sem, as eldast halily Fell all the landis of Asy
1513 Doug. i. ix. 131.
The ceptre wand, Quhilum Priamus eldast douchter bair in hand
1552 Reg. Cupar A. II. 106.
To James Fyf, hir eldast sone
1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 14.
He begat thre sones, the eldast callit Sir Colene

b. Pertaining to the oldest of a family. c1420 Wynt. ii. 209.
Thus Jacob wane the eldest gre, Thowcht yhungar in the byrthe was he

2. In general use: a. Of persons: Most aged. b. Of things: Oldest, longest in use.a. 1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 246.
Ane worthy asysse of the eldast … of the said landis and of the quentre by
a 1470 Liber Aberbr. 108.
Mony of the eldayst mene in the cuntrey
b. 1575 Edinb. Test. IV. 42 b.
[I leave] to James … my eldest blak cloik
1590 Ib. XXI. 182.
He … leuis … to James his ȝoungest brother his eldest frenche blak cloik

3. Of greatest antiquity. c1475 Wall. viii. 1366.
Noblis … worthi of renoun, Off cot armys eldest in that regioun

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"Eldest adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/eldest>

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