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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.

Host, Hoist(e, n.² Also: hoste, hoost, houst, hoast. [ME. (a 1300) and OF. host, hoost; (e.m.E. hoast). Cf. Ost.Rare in early texts, where the regular forms are ost, oost, which, with oist, are more common in the 16th c. also.]

1. An armed company of men, an army.(a) Brus vi. 532 (C).
The tothir host … Presit on the tothir party Ib. xiv. 407, etc. Ib. xiv. 148; Ib. 257, etc.
A richt gret hoost … thai war 1513 Doug. i. vii. 125.
The orient hostis a1578 Pitsc. II. 39/9.
Schir Birny Lattin and his host … com fordwart furieouslie(b) 1456 Acts II. 45/2.
The incummyng of ane gret Inglis hoist 1483 Ib. 164/2.
The assemble of the Kingis hoist 1533 Boece 15.
How Hengist & Vortymere movit ane hoist contrare Scottis & Pichtis Ib. i. vi. 44 b.
Thai suld nocht … departe fra thare mane hoist 1557 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 33.
Thre hundreth men to pas fordwart with oure souerane ladeis hoist and army 1596 Dalr. II. 295/1.
Quhen the Scotis hoist seaget Langup(c) 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxxxvi. 15.
Pharo and his hoast 1641 Acts V. 359/2.
Hoastis raisit for defence of the countrey

b. The host of hevin : Applied to the sun, moon, and stars. 1570 Sat. P. xv. 63.
Ȝe glystring starris. … All ȝe celestiall hoste of heuin, Absconce ȝow …!

2. The assembling or assemblage of armed men called out by the King or regent for service in the field. 14.. Acts I. 54/2.
Gif ony uthir man … hes borrowyt a hors … for to pas to the Kingis hoste 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 228.
He wes summond at our souerane lordis instance for the remanyng fra his hoist in the Ilis 1513 Reg. Privy S. I. 382/2.
Ane exemptioune … fra all passing to ony hoistis, assemblance or wapinschewings 1526-7 Stirling B. Rec. I. 29.
To mak compt and rakenyn of the stent silver of the caragh hors silver the tyme the Governour passit to the houst to Ingland 1572 Prot. Bk. A. Lawson 19 b.
The said Johnne … wes convict … for his treasonabill abyding fra our souerane lordis hoist and raid convenit at Hawik 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 6 b.
Of them qvha comes to the hoist 1685 5th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 626/2.
To dispence with such heritors as is … sickly from going to the hoast 1685 Logie Par. Hist. I. 128.
The visitation cannot hold at Logie … becaus of the heretors absence at the Kings hoast