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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.

Waist, Wast(e, n. Also: vast, we(i)st. [ME and e.m.E. wast (14th c.), waast (Chaucer), waste (Prompt. Parv.), OE *wæst, weahst.] a. The waist of a person. b. The waist of a garment, the part of a garment that fits on the waist. c. attrib.a. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2422.
The tod lap on land, als blyith as ony bell, And left the volff in watter to the waist 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1376.
Kilt vp ȝour claithis abone ȝour waist, And speid ȝow hame againe in haist 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9103.
Sa ather about the nek [he] imbrasit, with greit kindnes, and sine about the waist 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI 22.
He maist cruellie … band him hand and fute, and knit ane lang corde about his middle waist, kaist and hang him in ane deip coilpathoill 1603 Crim. Trials II 422.
For cureing of the said Johnne Crystie, being diseasit of a swalling, in putting of thre silk poyntis, in his devilisch maner, about his waist 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 119.
For … towes to bind about the sklaitteris waistis to hold them unblowing af the skaffeldis(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 113/29.
He grippit hir abowt the west 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 170.
Culan and his men … waide to their westis befoir thei come to dry land 1635 Innes Sketches 521.
Concerning the maiking of soume picturis … the pryce quhilk ewerie one payes to me, abowe the west, is twentie merkis 1650 Brechin Presb. 46.
He lost his wholl senses and abilitie of his body from his west downward 1657 Balfour Ann. II 189.
The ambassador … did thryce reuerence to the queeine and being come neir to her, he bendit doune to kisse her west(c) a1585 Maitl. Q. 230/123.
The wemen … To mak thame small thair weist is bound(d) 1596 Dalr. I 90/24.
A verie braid sword, with a scheiring sharpe edge that at the first straik, with litle force, it walde scheir a man in twa in the waste or midle 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 52.
Kaithrein Makteir … wald put it [sc. the belt] about hir vastb. 1473 Treas. Acc. I 30.
iiij½ elne of brade clath for ij govnis and ij kirtillis to the quene, for the lyning of thaim fra the waist vpe 1503 Treas. Acc. II 232.
For iij skinnis of ledder to the said jak fra the waist doun 1638 9th Rep. Hist. MSS App. ii 26.
Ane double Vennes caff witht tua lefe on all seames and poyntes about the west 1669 Thanes of Cawdor 322.
To Mr. Litiljon for making goun and petticoat … 3 ell scarlet ribben to ty the westc. (1) 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 192a.
Sax wast beltis of ledder at xl d. the pece 1620 Edinb. Test. L 352a.
Tuelff imbroderit waist beltis at xxxvi s. the pece 1667 Arch. Scot. I 176.
[The beltmakers essay] a shoulder belt, a wast belt with an furniture(2) 1601 Treas. Acc. MS 96.
Small linning to be waist claithis