Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Base, Bais, a. Also: bays, baise, baisse; beas(e, beasse, beisse. [ME. baas (c 1430). base. bace. var. of Bas a.]

1. Low-toned; bass.a1500 Henr. Orph. 369 (with base tonys in ypodorica). 1513 Doug. ix. vi. 28 (with ane bays voce thus Ninus spak). 15.. Clar. ii. 1653 (the dulse base fiddell). 1623 Edinb. Test. LI. 312 b (ane beas violl). 1660 Nicoll Diary 293 (sex base violes).

2. Base dance, a slow stately dance.1549 Compl. 66/13 (dansand base dansis). 15.. Clar. iv. 1370 (ane bease dance to make).

3. Low in social condition or status.1567 G. Ball. 208 (quhen say weill salbe brocht base). a1578 Pitsc. I. 193/35 (albeit throw base estait thai be degenerat). 1581 Burne Disput. 144 (an auld creatur of maist bais degrie); 188 (mechanick artis of the baisaist qualitie). 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Subvassores (base halders, or inferioure halders). 1608 Fam. Seton 908 (my baisse, abject and contemtible estaite). c 1620 Sutherland Corr. 365 (be not in your rayment too baise).

4. Illegitimate, base-born; debased (money).a1578 Pitsc. II. 301/19 (ane base sister of the quenis). 1660 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 439 (all sort of such bais copper coyne).

5. Low in place or position.1587 (1650) Dundee B. Laws (the beisse windowes [of the tolbooth]). c1590 Fowler 115/83 (with visage baise on ground).

6. Morally low or despicable.1640 Mure II. 15/447 (a base pedantick slave). 1661 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 463 (for his bais cariage). 1669 Ib. III. 121 (her bais and leud cariage). 1671 Wemyss Corr. 113 (working hir beasse ends).