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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.

Word, Wourd, n. Also: worde, vord(e, uorde, wourde, vourd, wowrd, woord(e, uoord, wird, woird; (vard). [ME and e.m.E. word (c1200), wourd (Layamon), woorde, wirde (both c1400), OE word, MDu. wort, ON orð.]

1. Speech, (an) utterance, something said. Also with, at (that, etc.) word(is, that being said, at that; to geve the word, to give a command or permission; and in on uoord, in a word, briefly. Also pl. b. A particular sort of utterance, a saying, motto or riddle. Also pl. c. Gud (ill, ewill) word, something good (bad) said about another. d. Verbal dispute, argument, contention.There may be some overlap with 3 below.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 4245.
Caneus can neir him draw, And said, alssone as he him saw, Ane word [F. une parole] of great nobillite: ‘Lo [etc.]’ c1420 Wynt. v 1535.
Nane mycht ken that evyr he wes, For ony word, off [C., W. or] cas hapnand, Changyt in hys assembeland 14.. Burgh Laws c. 100 (B).
Gyf ony man myssais tha aldyrman in ful courte it behufys hym wyth his frendis deny it sayand wyth his mouth I am leyit thrw the worde of mersy a1500 Henr. Fab. 770.
Me think na man may speik ane word in play, Bot now on dayis in ernist it is tane a1500 Henr. Hasty Credence 51.
Bakbyttaris … slayis with ane wowrd—Him self, the heirar, and the man saiklace a1500 Rauf C. 100.
The carll was wantoun of word, and wox wonder wraith a1500 Rauf C. 491.
That word is for nocht, That thow carpis thair c1475 Wall. vi 538.
Wallace was blyth fra he had hard thair wourd a1500 Seven S. 190.
Full courtasly inclynit he thare Bot a word les na maire He spak a1500 Seven S. 215.
He is exild Fra speche that na word speke may he c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 157.
I sall say furth the south, dissymyland no word c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 102/6.
Woord 1533 Boece 545b.
Edwerd … reiecting him [sc. Bruce] with ane lichtlie worde 15.. Dum Wyf 59.
The first word that scho spak, Scho said, ewill mot ȝe fair 1558-66 Knox I 52.
Thy Grace shall have experience gif I go aganis ane worde that I haif hecht c1610 Melville Mem. 261.
Vthers … cam in and flatterit him … and bekkit wery laich to him, callen him ‘your grace’ at ilk word 1613 Elgin Rec. II 135.
He lewche nocht at na word nor poynt of the preitching c1650 Spalding II 292.
His escaip wes wrocht in October, quhairat maior Monro leuche not a word a1689 Cleland 13.
For a misobliging word, She'll durk her neighbour ov'r the boord(2) 1375 Barb. xv 145 (C).
With that vorde assemblit thai a1400 Leg. S. ix 89.
The apostol sad … 'Wikit spryt, trawale hym no mare!’ & with that wourd … The seke wes heylit of his care a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1185.
Say me ane chois, the tane of thir twa, Quhethir [etc.] … The wourthy wyis at that word wox woundir wa 1513 Doug. xii vii 105.
‘Harnes, harnes, bryng hym hydder in hy! Quhy stand ȝe sa?' Japis gaue a cry, And with this word aganyst thar fays he Hes first thar spreit inflammyt to melle(3) 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 211.
Satan delyuerit ane catt out of his hand to Robert Greirsoune, gevand the word to ‘Cast the same in the see hola!’(4) 1638–9 Ruthven Corr. 11.
You desyre to knoe hou you and they shall cayrie your selfes—in on uoord, as you doepl. 1375 Barb. xi 158.
Thai … Manausyt the Scottis-men … With gret wordis [C. vordis] a1400 Leg. S. vi 105.
The vordis than of the appostil This madyn tald tham al till c1420 Ratis R. 224.
With wordis of lawte vs thi twnge 1460 Hay Alex. 2913, 2916.
Quhat ware thai the war to gif fair wordis … Fair language garris men oft chape gret perrell, And prydie wordis fall oft in gret tinsall a1500 Henr. Fab. 315.
Quhan hir sister in sic ply hir fand, For verray pietie scho began to greit, Syne confort hir with wordis [Bann. wirdis] hunny sweit 1513 Doug. iii vi 203.
I am levyt with my wordis [L. voce] thé to charge 1513 Doug. xii ii 46.
In few wordis on this wys he said: ‘O my deir moder [etc.]’ 1533 Boece 326a.
In all his teichment and laubouris he proffitt sa litill, that, to induce gude maneris … na thing was les effectuos than his wordis c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 329.
Talbart maid at him bot scorne, Lychtlyand him with wordis of pryde 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I 138.
Becaus of the monifauld blasphemeis and evill wordis vsit be sindrie wemen, they haif concludit that ane pair joges be sett vp 1596 St. A. Baxter Bks. 59.
Johnne Grig … iniurit Alexander Scharpe be wordis 1652 Dingwall Presb. 242.
Allexander M^cKenzie … to compeire … to heire himselfe sentenced for his irreverentiall words against his minister(b) 1375 Barb. ix 752 (C).
Sen thou spekis so ryaly, It is gret skill at men chasty Thi prowd vourdis 1375 Barb. xviii 515 (C).
He sulde by sair His wourdis that war sa angry a1500 Peblis to Play 93.
Thai … spak with wourdis wonder crous c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 12 (M).
I hard … Ane hie speiche at my hand with hautand wourdis 1524 Douglas Corr. 97.
And at hyre grace spekis no displeseind wourdis of me 1533 Boece 62a.
At his wourdis the pepill was … inflambit to ire(c) a1500 Henr. Fab. 315 (Bann.) (see (a) above). a1568 Merser in Bann. MS 213a/28.
Be nocht of wirdis our grit perfluensb. a1400 Leg. S. i 11.
He … sad til hyme this wourd … 'Thu art Petir, at is, oure stane' a1400 Leg. S. iii 1079.
Proponyt till hym sal be A thinge of gret diffyculte … And gywe he cane vndo that worde, He may wele syt at ȝoure awne burde c1420 Ratis R. 167.
Trow weil the philosophuris word, Than sonar slais ill air na suord 1490 Irland Mir. II 150/4.
The wourd and saw of a gret orator is richt plesand 1539–40 Treas. Acc. VII 293.
For the brodering of ane jornay cote to the kingis grace … broderit upoun it the kingis word in billis, price x li. 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 166.
When he that sermone celebrat, He had a worde accustomat: ‘The propheit meins this, gif ye mark it’pl. 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 80.
James Rendall … deponed that he knew that she spak the words and be her words he kept the skaith of the death of his beastis 1533 Boece 63b.
How sone thai saw the mone eftir the coniunctioun with the son be certane devote wourdis … thai maid it salutacion(b) 1622 Crim. Trials III 511.
Be vttering of dyuerse woirdis, … [she] restoirit hir to hir helthc. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 101.
Gyf folk gud word be-hynd thar bak a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 139.
Gif nane ill word behynd thar bak a1570-86 Maitl. F. 171/78.
Ane of thir tua sall nocht faill Owther to be slane with ane swerde Or ellis of ilkman haue ewill wourded. 1410 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 31.
Eftir syndry altricationis and wordis we bad the parteis ramwif 1500 Acta Conc. II 466.
[They ordain the Clerk of Chancery to deliver to the pursuer the copy of the retour] and to bring with him the breif allegit to be rasit in the word of Februar agane the sade day(b) 1460 Hay Alex. 5145.
Bot for to put the king in argument That vnder that he micht sum vardit [?erron. for vardis or vard it or vard ȝit] say Quhilk [etc.]

2. Speech, what is said in contradistinction to a. Actions, deeds, etc. Also proverb. b. What is recorded in writing, also applied to a verbal agreement. c. The wourdis of the law, what is written in contradistinction to the intention (of the lawmaker).See also 7 a for a further example of a.a. a1400 Leg. S. i 251.
Pece be till ȝow … That luffis pes in worde and dede ?1438 Alex. ii 1253.
Ane man with word may mak him fa Alsweill as with deid, I say 1415 Lennox Mun. 61.
I sal be lele and trew til my said lord in vorde, cunseil and deid a1500 Bk. Chess 1539.
That word and mynd and deid accordand be c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 182/41.
Fra everilk mowth fair wirdis proceidis; In every hairt disceptioun breidis a1568 Scott xxxiv 26.
The wysest woman … With wirdis may be wyllit To do the deid 1558-66 Knox I 80.
The king … in woordis praised thare prudent foresight and wyse counsall. But … he decreed a notable revenge 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 19.
They baith sa grew in talk … at last thay wer in a maner cum from wordis to blawis 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 251.
The said multitude had … menassit and boistit the said baillie in word and deid 1596 Dalr. II 466/8.
The opiniounis … coloured with fair wourdes c1610 Melville Mem. 47.
He was a man of word and deid 1649 Hist. Fragm. II 91.
His doings are beyond the limetes of being satisfied by woordesproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 258.
Efter word comes weird a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 109.
After word commes weird weill worth them callit me dameb. 1410 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 30.
We a borch findis that we aw nocht to be distroblit in our possessioun [sc. of the land] na thir aw na man othir clamand for nane naykit wourd haiff pastour in our propir muyr c1475 Wall. vi 378.
Ansuer ye sall nocht craiff Be wryt or word quhilk likis yow best till haiff 1490–1 Acta Conc. I 185/2.
Duncane laid in wedset a land & tennement in Linlithqw to Thomas Gudelad be word & but charter or possessioune 1524 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 389.
Alexander Settoun … producit nane euident tuiching the halff landis of the said Ardlar but wordis allenerlie except ane precept of seysing without charter or ony other euident followand therapoune suld do nane steide 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 87.
The manesing and bosting wes mayd to the deponar, bayth in word and wryt, be Mr. Alexander 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 39/25.
Keip the traditions quhilk ye have learned ather be wourd, or be our epistle 1615 Highland P. III 191.
I gaue … nayne other directioun or article at all ather be woord or wreittc. 1490 Irland Mir. I 113/36.
Oft tymes necessite is … to lefe the wourdis of the law and folow the … entencioune of the … makare of the law

3. A word, the smallest element of language used to convey meaning. b. (Word) be (for, in) word, word for word, verbatim. c. Off fewe wordis, (wordis few), taciturn. 1488–9 Reg. Paisley 407.
Eftir the tenor and furm of a compromis made betuix the saidis partis; the quhilk followis in thir wordis 1490 Irland Mir. I 27/6.
Adopcioune is a wourd of law, that quhare a riche man has nocht a naturall sone … he may … tak a pure man or child to his sone be adopcioune, to succeid to him as aire c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 176/15.
And the deith ourtak thé in trespas Than may thow say thir wourdis with, Allace: Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas 1513 Doug. i Prol. 126 (Sm.).
For ane iymp or a bourd, I pray ȝou note me nocht at euery wourd 1533 Gau 82/23.
The fewer vordis ve haif the prayer is the better 1549 Compl. 16/25.
Thir lang tailit vordis, conturbabuntur, constantinopolitani [etc.] 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 86.
He … hard Mr. Alexander speik the wordis specified in the ferd artikyll 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 42.
The governour never keipit ane word of his promessis 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 496.
The woorde elder … sumtyme it is takin learglie, comprehending alsweill the pastouris and doctouris, as … seniouris and eldaris 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Ora.
Ora, ane auld Saxon worde, and signifies mettall … From this comes the worde ȝit commonly vsed, vre, as leid vre c1616 Hume Orthog. 23.
In abating from the word following, we, in the north, use a mervelouse libertie; as, he's a wyse man, for he is a wyse man 1622 Crim. Trials III 514.
The woirdis ‘laying on and taking af’ ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 145.
He planted ministers, who understood not Irish, into paroshines wher ther was not a worde Scottishb. c1420 Wynt. vii 588.
This knycht syttand at the borde All this rehers[it] word be word 1460 Hay Alex. 758.
Than Nicolas persauit in him weill That he in worde forbure him neuer a deill … And word for word this at the bey him baid; And sayd [etc.] 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 545A.
This bill word in word with the witnes that ar her present to be comprehendit in the sammyn 1493 Acta Conc. I 308/2.
The bill of complant … of the quhilk the tenour folowis word in word ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 37.
Thy wryt be wourd we haue sene Fra first to last at thow can mein 1509 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 46.
This is the varraye copye of the prenspall fundatione donatione and legatione … copiit in word be word be me 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 75.
Thome Bell … concordis with Jhone of Murraye word be word of his sayingis 1531 Bell. Boece I 163.
We have inserit the eloquent orisonis of Galdus and Agricola, word in word … in … our … werkis 1535 Stewart 20904.
All thair promit he schew till him perqueir, Ilk word by word as I haif said ȝow heir 1566 Lanark B. Rec. 33.
The baillie … causit Katharein Beg … keiper of the said prothogoll to produse the samin, and collatit the prothogoll and the copy of the samyn instrument, quhay wes rycht word be word 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
Repeated word by word in the articles of pacification 1663 Galloway P. 19 March.
[The document is attested as] the just coppie of the abonewryttin tack word be wordc. c1420 Wynt. v 3555.
Off wordis few [W. off few wordis] and myld off mwde c1450-2 Howlat 175 (A).
Off fewe wordis, full wys and worthy thai war

4. A secret word, saying or phrase exclusive to one group, esp. that given to a mason on his initiation into the craft. 1608 Dundonald Par. Rec. 172.
Bessie Cvthbert … deponit that scho gat ane word of charming of beastis bot scho could name nane in speciall 1652 Kelso Presb. in Pick & Knight Pocket Hist. Freemasonry 172 (see Maso(u)n n. l c). 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 348.
The mason word … it's like a Rabbinical tradition … with an addition of som secret signe delivered from hand to hand, by which they know and become familiar one with another 1696 Knoop & Jones Sc. Mason 81.
Some questiones that masons use to put to those who have the word before they will acknowledge them

5. News, information; rumour, report. Chiefly without article and const. bring, expect, get, etc. Also as the subject of the verb. b. Report of a person's character, reputation, fame.(1) 1375 Barb. iii 421.
Thai send thar-off word to the king That wes ioyfull off that fynding 1375 Barb. xiii 671 (C).
Thar wes fra thine send him worde That the riche erll of Herfurde … wes thar a1400 Leg. S. xviii 99.
Thare wes na vourd of idilnes, Of gold, na siluire, na ȝet riches, Na of ony thinge temporale 1401 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 8.
Send vs word & we sal late hym wit c1475 Wall. v 1086.
Gret worde thar is of Wallace thaim amang. Thai trow that he has found hys men agayne a1500 Sir Eger 2078.
Right now is he come again, And brought me word the knight is slain 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 106.
Gif your Lordschipe plesis that I by of thaim [sc. white fish] send me word 1513 Doug. v xii 2.
Ontyl Anchises … First brocht Ewmolus word, quhou the navy Was al infyryt c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xv 12.
The discipilis com, and said to him, ‘Thou knawis that gif this word be herd, the Phariseis ar sclandrit’ 1546 Treas. Acc. IX 25.
To certane men of Sanctmonanis that come witht thair boittis at the first wourde of the incuming of the Inglische men to … serve his grace 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. ii 506.
Priami fuerint quae fata, quhat word of Priamus a1578 Pitsc. I 292/8.
The lordis heirand worde that the governour was determinat to punische thair … wickitnes 1584 Laing MSS 50.
His hienes … mervellis lang for word fra your honnour 1591 Reg. Morton I 177.
Gif ȝe haiwe resawit ony newis or vord abak fra the Kingis ma[jestie] aduerteis me vith this berair 1600–1 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 108/10 20.
He … gaiting word that his maiestie wes nocht cum furth 1603 Moysie 40.
Certane word of the diukis returning from his woyadg to Dumbartane 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxix.
Thear did newir ane schipe come in Tay bot he lowked for his father, or word fra him 1618 Montgomery Mem. II 279.
To the boy brocht word the boit wes cum vi s. 1623 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 179.
As for news ve have non bot a fliing vord that the Prince is cum hom vithut his vyfe 1627 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 23 May.
[She] grantit that thair was sum worde anent the baptizing of the bairne bot nothing was done 1690 Lett. (Annandale Papers, R. C. Reid transcript) 20 Feb.
I expect woord betwixt & this day 8 dayes(2) 1375 Barb. ii 78.
Our all the land the word gan spryng That the Bruce the Cumyn had slayn a1500 Sir Eger 1762.
They may be right unfain, When that the word is to them gane, That such a tinsel they should tine 1532 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 123.
Nycholl Raa … depones … that he kennes that James of Murray tuk ky of Jame Turnbull and slew ane of thaim, and the vord vas that he tuk thaim for borrowgait of Robert Turnbull 15.. Clar. iii 47.
The wird of quhilk [battle] com to the reallem of France 1560 Rolland Seven S. 582.
Word beliue come to the empreour That [etc.] 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 327.
With this the word yead through the toun, How lurcan Lowrie played the lowne 1591 Reg. Morton I 176.
Howsone vord cam … thair ischewit furth my lord Grayis twa brethar vith sum … serwandisb. a1400 Leg. S. iii 935.
Ȝour word is spred wid Of halynes one ilke syd c1475 Wall. iii 252.
The worde of him walkit baith fer and ner

6. A promise, a pledge. a1500 Lanc. 1671.
O kingis word shuld be o kingis bonde a1500 Colk. Sow ii 251.
That penny out he brocht And awowit to God in solempnit word That he suld nevir study to mak ane hord 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 527/2.
Our soverane lord promittis fathfullye and on the word of ane kyng, that [etc.] 1533 Gau 24/11.
To keip the viii command … excus thy nichtburs faltis the best thow cane be faithful in thy word and promis 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 394.
Thair majesteis … in the fayth and word of princes faythfullie promittis, that [etc.] 1558-66 Knox II 297.
To what end shall men subscrive and then never mean to keap wourd of that quhilk thei promeisse 1600 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxvi.
If ye pleis vryt yowr answer on the bak herof incas ye vill tak my vord for the credit of the berare a1650 Row 545.
Befor I brake my word in a jote to you

7. a. Goddis (Christis, etc.) word, the word of God, etc. Also be word, divine communication or command, esp. as conveyed by a prophet or recorded in scripture, passing into scripture itself. Also pl. b. The word (of mycht, lyfe), = a above. c. The preaching of scripture. d. Applied to a person or, esp., to Christ.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xiii Prol. 22.
The discipulis … vent with Jhesu, & of His werkis vitnes bare, & of His vord a1400 Leg. S. xv 75.
We … cummys … For to preche Goddis word, As is gefyne vs in til hurd 1490 Irland Mir. I 109/13.
Sene thou art God of mycht Thi wourd mone stand Thi law mone be kepit c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxvii 15.
The wird of Jesew is fulfillit rycht, Surrexit sicut dixit 1533 Gau 4/15.
Thay quhilk befor ves blindit and ar nou illuminat be the licht of Godis vord c1552 Lynd. Mon. 703.
Be His word, all thyng was wrocht, Without materiall maid of nocht 1562-3 Winȝet I 18/15.
Quhat we meanit to be immediatlye callit of God, to be ane lauchfull pastour—quhilk is ony man to haue the special command of Godis word at the lest, chargeand him to that vocation 1562-3 Winȝet I 19/9.
Quhat Christiane man may dout … the prophecie of Amos is the worde of God? For the scripture testifiis that Amos wes send be God, and that visible signis wes schawin to him be God c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii 14.
The chosin children of God … Reiosis cheiflie to heir His blissit wourd 1580–1 The King's Confession in Dickinson Source-bk. III 33.
To the quhilk confession and forme of religion we willingly aggree in our conscience in all poyntis as unto Godis undoubted trueth and veritie grounded onely upon His written worde 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 122/6.
My faith is not groundit vpon your lauchter, bot vpon Christis vord 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 32/4.
The haill scripture is dytid be Goddis spreit thairbe as by His lyuelie uorde to instructe & reule the haill kirke c1612 Skene Memorabilia 11.
Robert Rollok minister of Godis word 1622-6 Bisset II 181/28.
Godis name and worde ay prased 1629 Justiciary Cases I 130.
The devyne law of almychtie God set doun in His sacred woird a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 80.
The Lord supponeth here, that every one this word cometh unto, will not haue hearing earspl. c1420 Ratis R. 626.
Sa sais Paull in his doctryne, Thai are his vordis & nocht myne 1490 Irland Mir. III 1/8.
The haly sacramentis … haue wertu in thame of the glorius passioun of Jhesu and of His haly wourdis 1581 Burne Disput. 10b.
S. Paul … could not misknau the vordis of Christ(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. viii 16.
He [sc. Jesus] kest out spiritis be word, and heilit al that war euile at eiseb. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xi 25.
Thru the word of mycht To borne-blynd Thu giffis sycht 1533 Gau 56/9.
Our lord Jesus Christ gaiff Hime selff to deid for the halie Chrissine kirk … and He hes veschine it with the lawer of water throw the vord of liff 1562-3 Winȝet I 108/15.
Christe clengeis His kirk … be the lawar of regeneratioun in the word of lyfe(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark viii 32.
He spak playnlie the worde 1551 Hamilton Cat. 60, 61.
Preche thow the word, be fervent, quhidder it be takin in seasson or out of seassoun (that is, quhidder the peple be content or discontent with the trew worde) 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 494.
The administratioun of the sacramentis … [and] the ministratioun of the woord … ar appoyntit be God as meanes to teach ws 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 873.
Of prayer and of reiding of the word 1614 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 13.
The necessity of that wark, needful … for the hearing of the word throughout the haill kirk 1655 Mouswald Kirk S. 9 Dec.
Whether or no they … woorship God with thair familie by prayer, reiding and conference on the word 1689 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 262.
There is many of the deacons … that refuse to collect the supplies and … distribute the same as formerly to the poor upon pretence they goe to hear the word in the meetting housec. 1604 Ellon Presb. 51.
Walter Chein … [who had been delated for contempt … ] be his absence … had hantit the word the tua preceiding Sundaysd. a1400 Leg. S. i 232.
I [sc. Simon Magus] ame … Goddis awne wourde, And I am His precious hurde a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 116/8.
The vord (that is to say the Son of God) was maid flesche

8. comb.(1) 1622 Crim. Trials III 509.
Without ony word-speiking, saif only be moveing of hir lipis ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 214.
[Men] rydinge … within two picke lenth to Montrose company without salutatione or worde speaking on either syde(2) 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) ii 31.
That thou would let alone this sword-fight And graple with me in a word-fight