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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hast(e, Haist, v. Also: hest, heist, heast. [ME. hast (a 1300), haste, OF. haster (F. hâter). The late form heist has remained in dialect in the phrase heest ye.]

1. intr. To make haste, to hasten, go quickly.(a) a1400 Leg. S. v. 112.
The seknes na remed Ma haf, bot hastis to the dede 1513 Doug. i. xi. 104.
The son … hastis in the sey … his hede to hyde Ib. ii. ix. 25.
Quhidder hastis thou? a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1278.
Friend, huly, hast not half sae fast 1611-57 Mure I. 280/2627.
Hast, … thy filthie soule to hyde Vnder his shadow(b) c1475 Wall. xi. 946.
Than Eduuard … Prayit him till haist; the tyme was pas[si]t by 1513 Doug. i. vii. 11.
Ane part haistis to beild the wallys wight Ib. iv. viii. 5.
Quhidder haistis he sa fast? 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1612.
All in ane voce the pepill bad him haist 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 28.
The king … haistit the mair ernistlie to marie 1614 Highland P. III. 147.
We delt with your lo. son to haist after your lo.(c) 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 391.
We suld heast to purge thame sune

b. refl. in the same sense.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 549.
He hastit hym so fast That cummyn in schort tyme was he a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 171.
In myn helpe nov haste thu thé Ib. xviii. 474.
I … saw men … Hast thame to sey a1605 Montg. Flyt. 444 (H).
When thae dames … had done their devore … , They hasted them hame(b) c1475 Wall. xi. 1216.
To my purpos breiffly I will me haist 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 25.
To ws thus carpis he: Haist you, matis 1533 Boece viii. vi. 261.
Pichtis … besocht Congal … to haist him with his army to Pichtland a1578 Pitsc. I. 394/15.
Than the kingis grace haistit him fast to Sanctandrois 1622-6 Bisset II. 257/8.
The maryneris … aucht to haist thame schortlie to buird agane c1650 Spalding I. 90.
He haistit him hame, bot befoir he com scho wes deid(c) 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 195.
Heist yow heir 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 260.
I pray ye will not feall … to caus Patrik heast himselfe hither

2. tr. a. To hasten, esp. to send or forward in haste from one place to another, to instruct (a person) to go in haste.(a) c1420 Wynt. v. 2377.
Quhethire art thow hast wyth sa gret hy? 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 108.
For God saik hast the boy again 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
Hast ansuere agayne and be solyst c 1623 Melrose P. 487.
To haste two masses of letters to the Earle of Niddisdaill 1637 Rothes Affairs Kirk 23.
Speak for hasteing the petitioners out of toune(b) c1475 Wall. x. 177.
Inglismen … Haistyt sa fast a battaill to the feild 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 116.
Til a man to pas to Edinburgh to haist the gunnis west 1531 Bell. Boece I. 193.
He solistit the medcinaris to haist his fader to the deith 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 20.
Pleis your grace haist me word and I sall cum 1568 Waus Corr. I. 61.
Haist the berar, for it wil be hard to get langer contenwatioun 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 328.
My lord Huntlie wes haistit hame to stay his broder 1614 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 7 Dec.
I hope it is not now tyme to desyre my lordis money to be haisted 1615 Highland P. III. 252.
Therfore thei wald be haisted hame c1650 Spalding I. 179.
No doubt he wes haistit thairto [sc. to prison] vpone the sight of this his noble reply(c) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 88.
That ye vill mak … yowr letter and hest hym avay 1582 St. A. Kirk S. 481.
Ordour to be takin … that he may be hestit to cum hame 1614 Highland P. III. 162.
I wold … hest tham [sc. soldiers] to Iyla 1689 Leven & Melv. P. 28.
Heast back the bearer Ib. 109.
I intreat that my letter be heasted

b. To prosecute, carry on, dispatch quickly or with haste.(a) c1420 Wynt. iii. Prol. 37.
This [history] in fourme to sped and hast 1513 Doug. x. v. 99.
As this orakyll he hastyt to our weill(b) 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 80.
Now haist my pane, sen algatis I mon de 1533 Boece viii. iv. 254 b.
Britouns … haistit thare expedicioun contrare inemyis Ib. xiii. vii. 514.
Gif thai had nocht haistyt thare iourenay 15.. Clar. ii. 1407.
Craftismen haistit thair wark 1570 Leslie 261.
To haist the mariage of the Quene of Scotland with the Dolphin 1588 King Cat. 8.
To drifte the puir mans causse and haiste the riche mans(c) 15.. Clar. ii. 1404.
Clariodus … Furth walkit … to gar men heast his warke 1583 Colville Lett. 38.
Willing us in the mein tyme to hest aduertisement

c. To cause to go or act quickly. In passive, to be hurried. 1513 Doug. i. vi. 21.
Hastand the hors hir fadir to reskew a1586 Lindsay MS. 73.
He prikkit his hors … to heist him to ryn 1622-6 Bisset I. 153/8.
That the keipare … nethir hald the knok abak neither haist the houre fordward 1664 Carstaires Lett. 110.
I am heasted, and can onlie kindlie salute your sister 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 674.
Being heasted with the bearers going away [etc.]