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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.

Help, n. Also: helpe, healpe. [ME. and OE. help.]

1. The action of helping or fact of being helped; aid, assistance; succour. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 218.
Quhy scho wes of helpe so bare c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2214.
He with all the helpe he mycht Purches … Come unto Troy 1405 Douglas Corr. 64.
With the help of Gode c1420 Wynt. iv. 1213.
To gyff hym wyt … how to succoure that cyte Mast redy helpe war, or defens Ib. v. 3263.
The wall bot litil helpe thame made 1428 Liber Melros 520.
The saide assis askyt mar help of men of vndirstandyng 1456 Hay I. 53/32.
That for the lufe of God he come sone to thair help Ib. 124/1.
Him behovit tak help of his legis c1475 Wall. ii. 142.
Thus gud Wallace … was tane, In falt of helpe 1513 Doug. viii. ix. heading.
Evander sendis his son … With hys army in help of Eneas 1570 Sat. P. xxiv. 60.
Or ȝe get helpe of France a1578 Pitsc. I. 111/25.
He had no wther refuge nor help of restitutioun 1616 Highland P. III. 303.
I will mak him all the lawfull healpe I can

b. In plur. An act of helping, a help, an aid. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 103 (B).
Gyf a wydow wyl by and sel wyth hyr nychburys ... scho aw to be comon wyth thaim in al helpys 1456 Hay I. 24/10.
Maugre the Emperour and all his helpis, of the quhilkis the were lestit lang 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 307.
For vtheris gratitudis, helpis, supportis and guid dedis … done to ws … be the said … lord 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1901.
This ȝour grewhound withouttin helpis ma Our onlie childe … hes tane vs fra

c. A source of help; a helper. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1125.
Be prayere off the Madyn pwre, That is my helpe and my succoure c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 77.
My lady Cleo, that help of makaris bene

d. Power to help. But help, unable to aid. 1513 Doug. ii. ix. 9.
A sword but help [L. inutile ferrum] about hym beltis he

2. Relief, cure; remedy. a1400 Leg. S. i. 44.
Sindry othir … gat helpe and heile c1420 Wynt. ii. 312.
Ne ware that Joseph … Hade sene remede and helpe for it c1450-2 Howlat 30.
Helpe to hert and to hurt, heilfull it was 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I. 25.
To sie gif scho culd mak hir ony helpe for hir lege that wes crankit 1591 Crim. Trials I. ii. 243.
For consulting with Rychie Grahame, ane nicromanser … in seiking of help att him to hir sone

b. Repair; sustaining, keeping in supply. 1549 Banff Ann. I. 26.
Quhilk tovnsmen sall geve hyme ȝeirlie ane laid … for the supple and helpe of his coillis 1655 Lamont Diary 87.
He said it [sc. a house] wold not neid helpe againe for the space of 7 yeare to come

3. concr. A thing used for helping, an accessory or adjunct. 14.. Acts I. 113/2.
Quhasa evir he be that … hes nocht thir forsayd helpis [sc. certain arms & armour] he sal tyn al his gudis