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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.

Thristy, Thrysty, Thirsty, adj. Also: thristye, -ie, thrystie, thresty, -ie, thrusty, thyrstie. [ME and e.m.E. þrisstiȝ (Orm), thresti, thristi (both Cursor M.), thristy (c1400), thrustie (c1440), thrysty (1471), thirsty (c1586), OE þurstiᵹ, þyrstiᵹ.]

1. Of a person, etc.: Afflicted by thirst, thirsty. Also in fig. context, and transf. Also absol. as noun.(a) c1420 Wynt. iii 298.
Sampsone … forfowchtyn was, Sa hate [and] thrysty nere that he Was in to poynt to peryst be a1500 Henr. Orph. 277.
A wonder grisely flud … Quhare Tantalus nakit full thristy stude a1508 Kynd Kittok 35 (Ch. & M.).
Gif ȝe be thristy or dry, Drink with my guddame … Anys for my saik 1533 Bell. Livy I 18/6.
Ane wolf, richt thristy eftir chais of beistis 1551 Hamilton Cat. 262.
Geve us the wattir of lyfe, the understanding of the law be thi spreit, of the quhilk quha drinkis sall nevir be thristye c1580-90 Rules of Health 6.
Neither drink bot quhen ȝe ar thristie and that only to stenche ȝour drouth with mesor c1590 Fowler I 153/5.
I thrystie am, yet from the wells I went(b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxv 37.
Lord, quhen saw we thee hungrie, and we fed thee? threstie [P. thristi], and we gafe to thee drink?(c) 1549 Compl. 34/23.
Quhen ve ar thirsty [MS thrsty], ve seik drynktransf. 1460 Hay Alex. 17967.
The king … drank ane grete drink in his thristy hete a1568 Bann. MS 243a/18.
As Tantalus in water standis To stanche his thristy appetyteabsol. as noun. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 144.
This worthy Lady but mannis syne bur a child … Till hungry, meit, till thristy, sweit licoure c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 16/27 (B).
I confes me … To hungre meit, nor drynk to thristy gaif

b. Avid for, strongly desirous of (something). 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 24.
Desyrous of troubill in weare thrusty of blude

c. Blood-thristie, bloodthirsty. For further examples see Blud(e)-thristie adj. 1559 Knox VI 100.
Our deere brethrein and sisters of Edinburgh and Lothiane, who by neerest these blood thristie tyrannes are so trubled and vexed 1562 Knox VI 147.
All suche blude thyrstie tyrantes as he is a1578 Pitsc. I 388/9.
Ane bloode thristie man haueand no feir of God

2. Of land: Parched, arid. Also absol. as noun. 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxliii 6.
My soule for Thee Longs as the thristy land for raineabsol. as noun c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. viii 7.
And that that was dry (is made) into a stank, and the thresty into wellis of watris