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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.

Ewest, Ewis(t, Ewous, prep. and a. Also: euest, eweist, ewast; ewys(t, ewise, eweis, ewische, eves; ewouse, ewus(e, evuse. [App. for newest, by false analysis of ME. anewest, aneuste, OE. on néaweste ‘in the neighbourhood’. Freq. used with maist, and occas. in a superlative form, evesest, ewisest.]

1. prep. Adjacent, close, or next to (a place); beside.(a) 1459 Peebles B. Rec. 131.
A land lyand euest the cors of Sir Andro Borris on the North Rau 1527 Buccleuch Mun. II. 331.
The cuntreis ewest our bordouris 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 23.
A certane ordinar force of futemen … to remane … in the partis and boundis ewest our said castell 1583 Conv. Burghs I. 166.
[That] the said burgh send thair commission with the burgh ewest the samyn 1602 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 224.
Within the borrow ruidis, … neir and ewest the Gallowgett Port 1641 Acts V. 469/1.
On of the laird of Morphies croes maist euest the land, quhairin … thair wes no watter(b) 1582 Waus Corr. I. 255.
The kingis majestie … is to be ewist they partis … befoir the end of this moneth 1583 Wemyss Corr. 100.
Convocating aine nvmer of horsemen and cuming ewyst … your faderis hous(c) 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 201.
In causing of your folkis that ar maist ewis ws to be in reddenes in our support 1565 Black Bk. Taymouth 212.
In cais the said Clangregour gett ony refuge … of ony … our … cuntremen ewis ws 1582 Wemyss Corr. 20.
Vnderstanding of sum gadderingis … of certane vnquiet men in places ewische our persoun 1636 Misc. Spald. C. V. 225.
Ilk tenent within the barony of Leyes, maist eweis and narest the … comoune moiss(d) 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 200.
I haf gewin command to my freindis and folkis maist ewous yow … to rise and assist in support of yow 1593 Ib. II. 82.
In the maisterfull and violent robbing aind spulȝeing … committit to ewous and nar this burgh

2. adj. Adjacent, close, near or next to a place.(a) 1500 Acta Conc. MS. X. 84 b.
The said fewal may be led be ald vsit wayis ewest and neerest til the said abbay 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 510.
Inglismen … lying sa neir and ewest to this cuntre … may in this point do grittest skayth and hurt Ib. 516.
Sellng the saidis rebellis ourlukit and winkit at be sic as duellis maist ewest to thame 1581 Acts III. 240/1.
The said toun … is maist commodeous and ewest to the haill inhabitantis of Badȝenochis, Bray of Angus [etc.] 1600 Ib. IV. 239/2.
The Cannogait and vtheris pairtis ewest to the place of his hienes residence 1638 Kirkcaldy Presb. 156.
Some parts of thair paroche that lyes farr of from them and ar mor ewest to other kirks 1661 Glasgow Chart. II. 42.
Wheirby the inhabitantis theirof may … repaire for the ordinances to the church within the citye ewest to them 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 386.
To call such weell affected ministers maist ewest to the above garisone to preach to them once a fortnight(b) c 1535 Lennox Mun. 349.
Gyf the Papys halynes be into Bowllone or ewyst to ȝow 1556 Crim. Trials I. 391.
Otheris resortand within his boundis or partis ewist thairto(c) 1489 Wemyss Chart. II. 113.
Becaus al the landis before wrytyne are seyne maire ewys and profitable to the said knycht 1531 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 142.
The said Alexander to remane daylye and duell alse ewise to the said brig wark as may be gudlye found 1246 Elgin Rec. I. 86.
It sall be lesum to the nychtboris … to labour the nerest half evesest to tham 1568 Black Bk. Taymouth 410.
With power to set six small nets upon the loch ewis to the said isle 1573 Ib. 220.
Ony place … adiacent ewis to the west end of Lochtay(d) 1527 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 117.
Gif your l. may eislie infeft ws in ony of your landis liand mair evuse to ws, or interchange … with wtheris haiffand landis liand mair ewuse to ws 1551 Reg. Privy C. I. 115.
The maltmakaris [etc.] … nixt and maist ewouse to the burch of Edinburch 1580 Inverness B. Rec. I. 287.
Becaus of deidlie feide. betuix him and sum of the clannis ewous to this burcht 1595 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 120.
Houssis belanging to the burght … maist ewous to the tolbuith of the burght

b. Without construction.(a) 1535 Stewart 1370.
In middis of Scotland … Quhilk wes most ewast bayth for Ylis and land 1571 Bann. Memor. 205.
Lat alsmonie charges pas as pleis, thai will obey none: and this we meane of sic as be most ewest 1584 Argyll Lett. 65.
Men maist eweist and acquent with the effairis of the cuntrie 1621 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 122.
Gif any of thame sall happin to repair agane to this towne or ewest heir about(b) 1463 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 21.
The said John sall continuallie remane ewist about the said myln quhair he may wesy thaim 1527 Acta Conc. MS. XXXVII. 112.
[Angus is determined] to refrene, dant, and stanche sic thevis, rubbryis and mischevis [for which he requires] part of strenthis maist ewist and nerrest 1542 Sutherland Chart. 98.
Ony grund … maist ewist and conuenient(c) 1576 Warrender P. I. 134.
Thair suld be cessatioun fra armis and all hostilitie to Michealmes … Quhairintill we have alreddy entrit with my Lord of Atholl becaus he is ewisest(d) 1527 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 118.
It var profetable … , and plesand, and ewuse 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 99.
In ony vther mos or myr maist ewus quhair we may obtene licence for the tyme 1568 Inverness B. Rec. I. 168.
The landwart townis about ewous adjacent to this towne

c. In attributive use.(a) 1587 Conv. Burghs I. 236.
The commissioneris of the ewest burgh vnexemit fra the said conuentionis 1617 Acts IV. 541/2.
A speciall servant or factoure … who sal haue his remaning in sume certane hous within the parochin or in the nixt most ewest and adiacent clachane 1641 Ib. V. 399/1.
That pairtis … of paroches may be … vneit to the nixt and more ewest paroche church 1649 Kirkcaldy Presb. 331.
How these parts that ar farr distant from kirks may be annexit to the most ewast adjacent kirk(c) 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 188.
Honest and agit personis, … ewis duellaris to the said parroch 1650 Elgin Rec. II. 362.
Those appointed past to … Harvie haugh, as the most eweis kirk land to the parish of Elgin

3. a. Readiest (goods). b. Of time: Near. 1596 Elgin Rec. II. 40.
Quhatsumevir persoun responsall removis furth of the kirk the tym of preaching … sall paye of thair ewest geir for the first falt 6 s. 8 d. 1641 Fraser P. 123.
The time of the holdings is so ewest, … that the defender's fair … must necessarily evert all privilege and use of his fair