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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.

Elest, Elist, n. Also: eelest, ealest; elis (pl.), eleist; elast. [App. f. E n. (eye) and ME. lest, last fault, defect. Cf. Eilest, Eyelist and Ilest.]

1. A fault or defect. 1549 Acts & Decr. III. 214.
Geif ony elast or defalt mycht apper [in the sasine] … quharthrow ony impugnatioun mycht proceid aganis it 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 446.
Thair Hienessis, for reparatioun of that elest [in the ordnance], … commandit all thing quhilk wes fallin in decay to be amendit and bet 1584 Ib. III. 705.
To seirche and espy the defaultis and elestis in the fortificationis of the said castell

2. A fault in conduct. 1562 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 345.
To accept … his spous in his familiar company … , remittand all offenssis and elestis done be hir in tymes bygane

3. A cause of offence, disagreement, or ill-will; a grudge or grievance; a ground of dissension or quarrell.(a) 1552 Sutherland Chart. .
Displessours, iniuris, vnkindnes, elastis and vtheris causis 1600 Crim. Trials II. i. 157.
Thair apperit to be sum elast betuixt his maiestie and my lord(b) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 342.
It is convenient that thay lay asyde all particular querrellis, grudgeis, and elestis, gif ony be standing amangis thame 1567 Ib. 513.
Hering sum elest to be tane … throw certane previe writtingis purchest of hir Majestie 1580 Inverness B. Rec. I. 287.
He culd nocht haiff securitie of his lyff … onless sic eelest war put to rest and queatnes 1587 Fam. Innes 148.
For … takyng away off all elestis, debettis, bloid, and all uther actionis … betwix ws 1599 Elgin Rec. II. 70.
All personis within this burgh betuix quhome ony elestis remains to be warnitt for thair reconciliatioun 1602 Ib. 99.
John Gibsone and Alexander Anderson remittit thair elestis(c) 1570 Leslie 288.
The samin [trouble] was stayed be the laboris of … [mediators] quha appointed thame upoun all elistis, wrangis and controverseis 1578 Thanes of Cawdor 180.
For reconsiling of all elis and in speciale for the allegit taking of the said David 1584 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 415.
Our Court leiwes nathing … unoffrit to satisfie hir M[ajestie], … and to repare all bygane elistis 1595 Crim. Trials I. 349.
All and sindrie personis, amangis quhome deidlie feid and eleist is presentlie standing 1620 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. ix. 42.
A … desyre to walkine and renew the auld troubles and elistis betuix the twa names 1636 Stirling B. Rec. I. 175.
To satle & tak away the elistis & differences standing betuix the merchandis & craftismen