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

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

Weit, Wet(e, v. Also: vete, weitt, veit, weyt, weet(e, wat, P.t. wet(e, vet, wa(i)t. P.p. wete, weyit, wett, wat(t, vat. [ME and e.m.E. wete(n (c1275), weete(n (Trevisa), weate (1545), wet (1589), wett (1596); p.t. watte (1297), wette (Cursor M.); p.p. vet (1297), wet (a1310), wette (Manning), OE wǽtan, Angl. wétan.]

1. tr.(To cause) to be or become wet with rain, water, etc.; to suffer harm or damage as a result. Also reflex. Also in fig. context. b. intr. or absol. a1400 Leg. S. xl 584.
The myrke cloud wes haldine oute Sa na rane mycht entre thare, … that mycht dere thaim quhare thai sete, Na claith na buk nothir wete c1420 Wynt. iv 1642.
On the tyme that thai that sete Bathe hayle and tempest were thame wete [C. wet] a1500 Henr. Fab. 2804.
I sall find the way Withoutin hors, brig, boit … To bring ȝow ouer … And not wetand [Bann. to weit] the campis of ȝour beird a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 4.
Quhen … perly droppis of the balmy schouris Thir widdis grene had with thair watter wete [Maitl. weyit] 1568 Edinb. Test. I 212b.
Ane polk of pepper … quhilk wes in the schip brokin … and wat in the sey 1571–2 Lanark B. Rec. 65.
Gef ony victuell beis wat or stolling, … in fecheing, careing, or grinding, the said David sall mak regres thairof a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 618 (L).
Thay ar conditionat lyke the catt, Thay wald nocht weit [Wr. weete] thair feit 1624 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 256.
To have abusit the watter baillie … and manassed to have watt his coattreflex. a1540 Freiris Berw. 561 (M).
Freyr Johne attour the stair was loppin And hurt his heid and wait him wounder ewillfig. 1576 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 5 Oct.
The haill dekynis war contentit for this present ȝeir to sit with clois mouth, and not to wat thair meillb. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. v 44.
All is not gold that gleitis … Nor water all that weitis 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 114.
Imbuo, to weit or to instruct ?1613 W. Alexander Doomes-day ix 108 (J).
The waves all dead entomb'd in crystall lye, Not having power to droune, no, not to weet

2. tr.To wet the cheeks, etc. (with tears); to weep. b. intr.Of a part of the body: To become wet with tears. 1375 Barb. iii 518, 526.
Wemen … can wet Thair chekys quhen-euer thaim list with teris … But … pete May ger men sua amowyt be That water fra the hart will rys And weyt the eyne on sic a wys That is lik to be greting a1400 Leg. S. v 448.
Fel done to Sancte Johnnys fete, And vith his teris can thame vete a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1302.
He … gretand vet breste and face a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1131.
The watter wet his chekis a1500 Henr. Orph. 140.
O dulfull harpe … wepe with me … Thy goldin pynnis with thi teris weit c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke vii 38.
Scho … began to weet [W., P. moiste] His feet with teres 1567 G. Ball. 125.
My teiris sall my cheikis weit a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxvii 18.
That thou thy cheeks suld weet, And for me greet 1629 Boyd Last B. 166.
While hee is in the churche, it may be, hee … weete his cheekes with teares at the preaching of Christe's passion 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 45.
Tears weet my face c1685 Annandale Corr. 315.
My tears which hes wett this papper soe ofenb. 15.. Clar. iv 2635.
From weiping he [refrain] might noght His beard begane with teares to weit for sorrow

3. tr.To wet a weapon, etc. (with blood); to kill. Also intr. c1475 Wall. vii 1000.
With Sotheroun blud thair wapynnys sone thai wet 1513 Doug. xii vi 121.
The brand … Quhilk schynand brycht into hys throte he wet 1533 Boece 67a.
Ȝone vnmercifull tyran … in the haly blude of oure native prince, has wett his pollute handisintr. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 759.
With vengeand wapnis of were throu wedis thai wet

4. tr.Of a person: To moisten, soak, dampen (something) with a liquid for some purpose. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1134 (C).
Hys fadres grave he wete … Of wyrgyne blood c1420 Wynt. ii 330.
His brethir … Slew a kyde and in the blude Wet the gowne c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 438.
I haif a wattir spunge … within my wyde clokis Than wring I it … and wetis my chekis c1520-c1535 Nisbet John xiii 26.
Jesus ansuerde, ‘He it is to quham I sal reke a sop of brede.’ And quhen He had wett in [? erron. for the] brede [W. dippid yn breed, P. wet breed], He gafe to Judas 1567 G. Ball. 41.
Send Lazarus, his finger for to weit, And cule my tung 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 21.
Temperand the air in priuat lugingis be aspersioun of cauld vater mixit with vinager or claythe vat thairin and hung by the vallis c1590 J. Stewart 8/11.
I dar skairs presum my pen to weit 1634 Reid Auchterarder 206.
Bot at her going to the water to weit the same, the bannok … brak 1641 Acts V (1817) 392/2.
That none quho sellis wooll shall weit the samyne … to mak up weight 1662 Crim. Trials III 607.
Quhen we rease the wind, we tak a rag of cloth and weitts it in water [etc.]

5. To wet one's lips, mouth, to drink (little). a1568 Scott v 70.
Delyt nocht lang in luvaris lesure … weit ȝour lippis & labor hully 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 288.
Sumtymes he wald bid weit his mouth with a litill waike aille 1701 Fugitive Poetry II xlvi 5/134.
[They] still at brandy weets their mouth

6. a. To wat ane anchor, to drop anchor. b. To weitt one's netts, to fish.a. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 168.
We … sailit to tua ylis … We wat ane anchor evin betuixt they tuab. 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 18.
That nane of thame presoome nor take upoun hand to weitt thair netts or buy anie herring till [etc.]

7. To wet (cloth) in the process of dyeing.The first quot. contains a punning allusion to sexual activity. a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlviii 16.
My clayth will nocht stenȝie, Suppois ȝe weit it nycht and day 1582 Dundee B. Laws 548.
Qwhat man … bids ony bruther of the said craft veit ony cleith first, that the first vett cleith salbe first drewin and millit