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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.

First, Fyrst, n.¹ Also: firste, fyrste, fryst, frest. [ME. first (a 1300) in phr. at the first, absol. use of First a.]

1. In the first, in the first place. (L. in primis.)(a) 1398 Acts I. 210/2.
With the consail of wyse men & lele … In the firste the Duc of Albany 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 79.
In the fyrst, Of angellis, twa hundreth foure score and v angellis 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 431.
Als in the first, … says he nocht thus … ? 1538 Treas. Acc. VI. 413.
Item in the first, bocht to his grace iij^xx vj bersis of irne(b) 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 119.
In the frest, a brof caldron 1458 Reg. Great S. 142/2.
In the fryst of ilke serpler of wole … twa pennys 1488 Paisley B. Rec. 27.
In the frest we fynd the marchez and diuisis … clere 1603 Montgomery Mem. II. 245.
Item, in the frist, gifin forten quarteris of tefeni … iiij s.

2. At the first, for the first time. c1420 Wynt. i. 429.
The rayne-bowe … [Than] at the fyrst wes seyne wyth ey