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

Fer(r)y bait, Ferry boit, n. Also: feré, ferré, ferrie, farie, fairie; bate, bayt, boyt, boitt, bot(e, boat(t. [ME. feryboot (c 1440), ferybote (1458), fery, Ferry n.] A ferry-boat.(a) 1467 Acts II. 89/1.
That thar be maid briggis of buirdis or portis in ferry baittis for the eis of schipping of the saide hors 1482 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 44.
Of ilk fery bait cummand inwart in the havin ij d. 1483 Acta Aud. 118*/2.
Anent the richt of the fery bait of the cors ford of Clide 1505 Liber. Aberbr. 356.
The ward and nonentres of the passage and fery bait of Montros 1517 Reg. Privy S. I. 456/1.
The gift of all proffittis of the ferrybate of Spey(b) 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 440.
To spy a moyt in myne E, That in ȝour awyn a ferry boyt can nocht se 1544 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 250.
Le nethir fery boitt … , le vuer fery boit 1582–3 Misc. Spald. C. V. 55.
For the ferrie boit to carre the folk to the bar 1603 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 26.
It is thocht expedient that … they attend … at the ferrie boat, and nott the names of sic as gangis to Downie 1644 Spalding II. 448.
Montroiss gives ordour to draw all the ferry boites on Spey to the north schoir 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 476.
The petitioners hath suffered great damnadge … by the loss of the benefitt of the saids fairie boatts