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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tast(e, Taist, Test, v. Also: taast(e, teast, (tastyng). P.t. also taistide. [ME and e.m.E. tast (Cursor M.), taaste (Wyclif), taste (Trevisa), OF taster, L. taxāre.]

1. tr. To feel (something) by touching, to establish by touch. 1375 Barb. ix 393.
The king … Schot in the dik and with his sper Taistyt [C. tastit] till he it our-woud a1400 Leg. S. xliii 579.
That thu godis cane cal, Ar bot stanis & stokis al, As thu ma with thi handis taste [L. tangendo]

2. To put to the proof; try; test. a1400 Leg. S. xlv 80.
Fadire Sone & Haly Gaste … thire thre quha vele cuth taste Is bot ane in diuinyte 1460 Hay Alex. 1908.
Nicolas … Hit him on the ouir cantell of the scheild Quhill ane quarter flaw out … Alexander … was nocht hurt Bot that his scheild was taistit all to-turt a1500 Seven S. 1355.
Thow may him taist Be a tre that he lufis mast Hewe it … And se how he takis it furth a1568 Scott xii 51.
It is bot waist Mo wirdis to taist

3. To perceive by the sense of taste; to experience the taste of. Also in fig. context. Also absol. a1400 Leg. S. iii 459.
Adame … ete of that forbodine met … thar-for suld this latir mane … The self bittirnes taste of gall c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 135.
For swetnes is the bettir knawing, at swetnes [? erron. for sournes] has ben befor taistyt a1500 Henr. Fab. 610.
The wickit mynd and adullatioun Of sucker sweit haifand similitude Bitter as gall and full of fell poysoun To taist it is 1551 Hamilton Cat. 206.
We taist with our mouth the gust of breid and wyneabsol. a1568 Scott xxxi 18.
No wit salbe degest, To heir, se, smell, nor test

b. fig. To experience, acquire knowledge of, as if by tasting. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 85/85.
How suld ȝe considdir Of Edinburcht blis … Bot gif ȝe taistit had befoir Of Strivilling toun the panis soir c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xvi 28.
Thar ar sum of thame that standis here quhilk sal nocht taast [W. taaste, P. taste] deid, till thai se mannis sonn cummand in His Kingdom 1567 G. Ball. 126.
To thame, Lord, thow sall conuart, Quhen thay thy mercy taist 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xl 221.
Bot quho that deith in vprichtnes dois taist Sall haue the lyfe that lests with joyfulnes 1574 Reg. Privy S. VI 466/1.
Thai have taistit ane pece and portioun baith of the danger and charges of the same

4. To try, sample, test the nature, quality or wholesomeness of (food or drink) by tasting; to distinguish by tasting. a1500 K. Hart 57.
Syn wes thair ane to taist all nutriment That to this king wes seruit at the deis 1577–8 Reg. Privy C. II 662.
All and sindry wynis … that sal happin to arryve in quhatsumevir portis of this realme … to remane under arreistment … quhill the same be sichtit, tastit and waillit be his Hienes symleir 1602 Inverness Rec. II 1.
That na broustaris … tack upoun hand to sell ony of thair aill … ay and quhill thai com to the bailȝies to desyir them to cum and taist the samyn … and set ane price thairupoun 1610 Inverurie 195.
And carie the saime furthe to ther nybors taisters to be taistit and valuet 1661 Nicoll Diary 316.
The Erle of Athole gevin him [sc. the Commissioner] the cup upone his kneyis, and taisting his drink in a cover befoir the delyverie of the cup 1663 Cramond Sc. Drink 20.
[To appoint some of their number] to taist the seck now cellared be Mr. Campsie, preparatory to the toune's denner 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 40.
[A wine pedlar] lets any man taste it that desires, giving them their loof full — 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. I 139.
Putting furth hir hand to greap about hir, hir hand chanced in ane barrell of aill with ane hat of barme vpoun it, quhilk scho teasted to be aill

5. To eat or drink sufficient to perceive the taste of; to consume a (small) quantity of (food or drink). Also fig. or in fig. context., to experience something of a spiritual or non-material nature. Also absol.(a) c1420 Wynt. vii 1354.
Fra that liqwre He tastyd [C. tastyt, W. taistit] than mycht he nowcht endure Bot hastyly … Deyd 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 220.
Many of the Scotish-Irish will not tast meat at those meetings, least they have communion with, or be poysoned by them [sc. Brownies, etc.](b) a1450 Fifteen Ois 182.
Grant me thi body and thi blude Worthely to taist the lestand fude a1500 Rois Garlandis 268.
And blist be his mouth that taistit apoun the croce the wynakar and the gall c1552 Lynd. Mon. 828.
Taistyng the fructis of diuers treis 1570 Sat. P. xx 174.
Gar cow his crowne, or put him doun That he may taist the cup Quhairwith oft tymes … Mennis lyues he interup a1578 Pitsc. II 78/24.
Thai wald drink no more witht Him at that tyme for He was to taist ane better cupe within schort tyme a1585 Maitl. Q. 245/32.
O ladye moir then lyfe to me Thou art the onlye foode I taist a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxi 5.
My lust alluirs my licorous lippis to taist The bait(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 198/13.
All wyne to test scho wold disdane Bot mavasy a1568 Bann. MS 231b/24.
Thus nevir I do rest so lusty a lyfe I leid Quhen that I list to test the well of womanheid(d) 1629 Hossack Kirkwall 258.
And quhen ye had gottin meit, befoir ye teastit it, ye spat thrys over your left shoulderabsol. 1611-57 Mure Psalmes xxxiv 8.
How good the Lord is, tast and see

6. intr. To convey an agreeable sensation of taste to (someone); to please, be agreeable to, in terms of taste. 1658 R. Moray Lett. 8 March.
Take apples such as taste you best

7. To taste of. a. Of a person: To sample by tasting, to eat or drink a (small) quantity of or from (cf. 4 and 5 above). Chiefly fig. or in fig. context. a1400 Leg. S. xii 419.
For-thi tha gaf hyme sic a drynk That quha-euire of it cane taste, He worde stane-blynde in-to haste 1513 Doug. Direct. 89.
Nane ar compellit drynk not bot thai haue thryst And quha sa lykis may tastyng [Sm., Ruddim. taisting] of the tun Onforlatyt c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1112.
To keip that Adam and his wyfe Sulde nocht taist of the tre of lyfe 1555 Misc. Bann. C. I 8.
Certane other wylde … bores which haue drunkyne the Frence kynges wynes, and taistide of his cwps 1563 Ferg. Tracts 5.
Althogh this pithles epistle haue lytle … strength to deceaue any that haue but meanly teasted of the treuth 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 573.
The crying of sic as of befoir had taistit of the proffeitt quhilk na thing belangit to thame 1580 Skeyne Descr. Well Sig. A 3.
Quha laitly causit brew aill of this watter, of the quhilk na beist wald taist, nor eit of the draf thairof a1585 Maitl. Q. 244/10.
O happie is that mortall wicht … that … neuer teastis of fortounis thrall 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 193.
And sche taistand of the samin, immediatlie thaireftir departit, be the said poysoun 1604-31 Craig ii 68.
Of Letheis lake I … shall teast 1607 Melvill 711.
Making chuse rather to drink in mudie watteres then to taist of the cleir fountain 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 43.
Shall these dregs be cast in a limbique, and such aquavitie to be drawn thereof as will make the braines of all giddie that tasts thereof?

b. Of a substance: To have a taste or flavour of (something). 1616 Rogers Social Life III 299.
The said meill malt quhilk taistit of nathing bot of verie watter

c. Of discourse: To savour of. Appar. with omission of of. 1596 Dalr. II 417/8.
Nouther … sulde tha beleiue or trow ony thing be the aduersaris of him said that taisted not ill talk, haitred and invie