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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.

Vant, v. Also: want(t)-, vaunt, waint(e, wanet. [Late ME and e.m.E. vaunt (15th c.), vant (1400-50), OF vanter, med. L. vantare; cf. Avant v.¹]

1. reflex. To praise oneself. Chiefly const. of, to.(1) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 161.
Thai … wanttis thaim nocht of thar gud deid 1513 Doug. i ix 85.
Full oft him self extoll and vant he wald Of Troiane blude to be discend of ald 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 67/35.
When one came to him vanting himselfe vntruly to haue slaine Savl, he … put him to sodaine death(b) 1562-3 Winȝet II 27/7.
Donatistis and the rest of that pestilent band, quha craikis and wanetis thame be the auctoritie of that counsel to baptize agane(2) 1581 Hamilton Facile Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 242/9.
Frere Jhone Craig, wha cust of his coule, gangand throw ane forrest in Italie as he vantit him self in sindrie compagnies becaus ane blak dog gaue to him be the way ane purse of gold

2. tr. To display. 1460 Hay Alex. 1327.
The king bad, Vant my baner in the feild!

3. intr. To boast, brag. Also const. of and with clause object.(1) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1138 (Wr.).
By the contrare, I may vant, Which thou must, though it grieve thee, grant 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 2b.
Ane pacient man can nocht wainte Pacience is ane worthie thinge Be pacient man and nocht fainte c1590 Fowler I 107/79.
Few wer they, yea, none ever was, that heirin so might want c1590 Fowler II 29/14.
Vant nocht insolently, fauour not thy selfe vanely(2) 1535 Stewart 50374.
At Banokburne … heirand the … greit dispyte of Scottismen tha spak … And of thame selffis rycht hielie vant and ruse 1600-1610 Melvill lxxi.
Of quhom my horne Sall vant: … I will be laith To smoir him 1657 Balfour Ann. I 237.
The Englishe … had … no grate resson to want of it [sc. the battle of Flodden], in respecte of the grate slaughter of ther men(b) a1599 Rollock Wks. I 342.
The Corinthians … micht have objected: ‘Weil Paull, ȝit vauntis thou of thyself? Thou hes anis vaunted of thy self … and ȝit art thou commending thy self?' He answeris: … 'I vaunt not of myself' 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I 291.
They ar becume so bold that in all thair publict meetings they vaunt of thair numbers credite … and moyen that they have of these about his Majestie(3) 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 53.
[He] prattit proudlie vantyng that his pen sould be worth ten thowsand men c1590 Fowler I 115/88.
Gorgeas, that bouldlye vanted that he knew all thingis that ever was 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 31.
Severall leud persons … who oppenly boast and vaunt not only to herzie and undoe the said compleaner in his meanes bot to have his lyfe 1677 Hossack Kirkwall 350.
John Drummond, who in his drunkenes, had vaunted that he had carnall dealings with Margaret Richen(b) 1562-3 Winȝet II 37/6.
Appollinaris … crakis and waintis that he consentis in deid to the vnitie of the Trinitie