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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Poet, Poiet, n. Also: poete, poeit; poyte, poit; poyet, -eit, -it, -at; pohete; pyit. [ME and e.m.E. poet(e (a 1300), poyete (Piers Plowman), poyte, poite (15th c.), poyet (16th c.), OF poete (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. poēta, from the Gk., maker, poet.] A poet, a writer of (more or less distinguished) verse. Also attrib., of a poet, poetical.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 9899.
Hector was wicht … As the poyet beris witnessing c1400 Troy-bk. i 517. c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 16 (W).
The pohete Omere a1500 Henr. Fab. 1377.
O maister Esope, poet lawriate Ib. 29, etc. 1492 Myll Spect. 279/1.
Vyrgill, the gret poyet & nygramessour 1658–1700 Greyfriars Interments 480.
The nobill poyet Mr. William Dumbar; Dunb. xxvii 110. Murray, Mongo, the pyit [also poyit, poyat, poyet](2) 1513 Doug. vii i 34.
Goddes … tech thy poet to say ryght 1591-2 Rob Stene 19.
Ȝowr poyet laureat(3) c1420 Wynt. i 1553.
Thir poetys sayis in thare fenyhyng [etc.] a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 245.
Lyke to ane poeit of the auld fassoun c1515 Asl. MS. I 324/16.
The opinionis of feynit pohetis and fals gentilis 1513 Doug. Direct. 52.
I haue not interpryt ne translate Every bural ruyd poet dywlgait Id. Æn. i Prol. 66. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 320.
Poyte 1536 Id. Answ. Flyting 15.
Wer I ane poeit, I [etc.] 1549 Compl. 66/5.
Nane of the satiric poiettis 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 83.
Swa beit we speik groslie in barbar maner, nocht as poetis 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii 2.
Skorner of poitis and sklanderus knaif 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 9.
The secund and fyrst class … sal reid … for poetis, Virgil, Horace, Ouide, and sum of Homer or Hesiode 1581 Sempill Sat. P. xliii 120.
Preichouris and poiettis are put to silence baith a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cv 1.
Sum of the poyetis and makaris that ar now Off … malice ar sa fow Sa that all lesingis that can be inventit Thai put in writt [etc.] 1586 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 89 (see Pans v. 1 (2)).
Poyeit a1605 Montg. Son. lx 10.
Poets leyis 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 79/15.
They are to graue materis for a poet to mell in(4) attrib. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2716 (Bass.).
Quhilk under poete [Bann. poleit] termis falset mingis