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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tract, n. Also: tracte, trackt, tracth, trai(c)t, track(e, tra(i)k, tret(e, treit(t. [e.m.E. trait (1477, Caxton translating F. trait) a shot; tract (1486), trait (1589) a drawn line, tract (1606), trait (1773) a lineament, feature; trak (1470-85), tract (a1547) a trail, tracte (1555), track (1570-6) a course, way, tracte (1556), track (1638) a course of action; tracte (1494) duration of time, tract (1581) duration of actions, etc., track (1681) sequence of events, tract (1593) stretch or extent of territory, OF traict, tract, trait (13th c. in Wartburg), MF trac (1440 in Godefroy), L. tractus.]

I. A line, lineament. [e.m.E. tract, trait.]

1. An arrow. 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 28.
vj dowsoun of tretis and genȝeis heidit with irne

2. Of the face: A line or feature, a trait. 1513 Doug. xii xiii 135.
And all elike wymplit and cled thir trakis [Ruddim. traikis] With eddris thrawin, and harys full of snakis 1632 Lithgow Trav. i 24.
Like to the heauenly tract and resemblance of our blessed Sauiour a1687 Sel. Biog. II 342.
The external lineaments and tracts of my face

3. A line or stripe. 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 133.
3. Item ane claith of estate of fresit claith of gold and traitis of violet silk partit equalie with violet velvot … 4. … Drauchtis of violett silk partit equalie with violett velvot

4. In musical notation: A line drawn to join one note to another. c1550-c1580 Art of Music 2.
Gaforus dois vrit … that a ligatur is of simpill figuris be detfull tractis ane ordinat connectioun, or as Tinctor writtis, a ligatur is of a noit till ane vthar togidder juning c1550-c1580 Art of Music 2.
Ornitoparcus … does vrit that a ligatur is of principall figuris ane condependens eftir the tracth vp or doun in rectitud or obliquit

5. At one traict, at a stroke, all at once. c1590 Fowler I 72/148.
Thair might be sene than in his face both dollour, dreid, and feare, And at one traict [It. ad uno tratto] both shame and yre and anger greit appeare

II. A track, course, way. [e.m.E. track, tract.]

6. A trail, the marks or other indications revealing passage of a person, animal, etc. (Cf. Trace n. 1.) c1590 Fowler I 98/24.
These whome lowe … had with him captive led As presoneris, and thame enforst his tract to trace and tred Urquhart Rabelais i xliiii.
I hear the track [F. trac] and beating of the enemies horse feet

7. The course of a stream or body of water. 1684 Corshill Baron Ct. 169.
To bigg their respective yaird dyckes … and to make sinkes and passages for the watter … and to suffer the same to pass in the ordinare tract and fall thereof

b. transf. Material taking passage along a course; effluent, sewage. 1535 Edinb. Guild Ct. 8 June.
Ane conduct and syour tilbe maid … fra the begyning of the said wynd … till haif passage dovne throw the samyn that the trait that cumis throw the said conductis micht haif discente 1546 Edinb. Guild Ct. 17 April.
And als that treit & drop of baith the closettis … pas as thai did afor & in the cobil as it wes afor 1546 Edinb. Guild Ct. 25 April.
That the droppis of the treitt of bayth thair closettis pas in ane [? bosoun] togidder 1551 Edinb. Guild Ct. 24 Oct.
The skaith done to the dik of his ȝaird be the stopping of the cundyttis syour of the treittis of closettis of the saidis landis 1556 Edinb. Guild Ct. 24 July.
Alexander Rynd to dicht vp the treit quhilk he hes in his bakland … & gif he pynnis it ony tyme heirefter that he pay the ferd penny of the dichting of the saidis clossettis

8. fig. A mode of behaviour, one's manner of conduct. (Cf. Trace n. 2 b.)There may be some overlap with 10 below. a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 207.
There may be some observation of a mans way, and tract of carriage, from which some discoverie may be made of a mans equablnesse, singlnesse and spirituality in such duties a1658 Durham Scandal (1740) 12.
The general tract of one's way and carriage (who yet may be civil, legal, and fair in all particulars) may be exceeding offensive 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 835.
Who doth make conscience to preserve for them that precious treasure put in our custody, and judges it more necessary than to live, to leave the tract of a way contending zealously for God, and the preservation of his interests … to the posterity

III. Senses expressing duration, continuation or extent. [e.m.E. tract.]

9. Duration, passage or lapse of time. 1577 Douglas Corr. 231.
Ȝe think the tract of tyme ower lang of the reparing of the regentis grace to the Bordouris c1590 Fowler I 395/4.
Eternall name, That tract of tyme can not destroy 1611-57 Mure Sonn. vii 11.
That zeale … By tract of tyme sall newer be out worne 1696 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 577.
Forgettfullnes by reason of the long tract of time

10. A sequence or the course of events; the continuing occurrence or duration (of an action, etc.); habitual behaviour; the course of a narrative.There may be some overlap with 8 above. 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix 407.
They had wrot the whole tract of his abhominable vices to the emperour 1649 Review Bramble's Faire Warning 8.
The long tract of mischiefes, which constantly has accompanied the order of praelacy a1658 Durham Scandal (1740) 11.
Other offences are more rooted and confirmed, as when a person hath a tract in them, is not much careful to prevent them … but sleights them, or defends them a1658 J. Carstares Ep. to Reader in a1658 Durham Comm. Rev.
The series and tract of the story and commentary a1658 Durham Commandments (1676) 112.
This is still to be understood as to some particular fact or event, and not in a common tract, or for the determination of a general truth a1658 Durham Subtile Self 39.
This is not a simple act of idolatry … but it is an habitual continued tract of idolatry 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 1.
A streight and evin line, course, and trackt of succession 1675 Red Bk. Grandtully I clxiv.
The constant tract of the good deeds and gratuities that your father and you are pleased to multiply on me 1677 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. V 263.
In the whole tract of the forsaid affair the persewars have beine extreamly prejudged 1684 Decis. Lords F. 63.
The lords finding there was a tract of theiving and imbaȝeling of his master's goods by the prentice, proven, they [etc.] 1696 Ayr Presb. 25 March.
George Cunninghame … confessed he was guilty of the sin of fornication in a continued tract with Jean Boyd

b. A series or sequence of people. 1683 Cloud of Witnesses (1714) 196.
Tho' I have read of some single ones dying for opinion (not truth) yet could I never read of a tract of men, such as has been in Scotland these 22 years, laying down their lives for a naked opinion

11. An extent of land.(a) 1604–10 Pont in McNaught Kilmaurs 5.
This tracte is so veill planted that [etc.] 1716 Dunkeld Presb. II 91.
The countries of Rannoch, Foss, and other places, … consisting of fiftein miles in lenth, and separated from all churches and schools by two tracts of hills of sex miles(b) 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 114.
From Nidisdail … all that tracke wich runneth out farr and wyde toward the west, betwene Dumbritton firth and the sea