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.
Quotation dates: 1456, 1535-1594
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Courtas, -ais, a. [Later variant of Curtas a. Cf. ME. courteis.] = Curtes a. 1456 Hay I. 159/22.
He is nocht gentill, na courtas, na worthy man of were 1456 Ib. 237/32.
Thai ar gentill and courtas to men of kirk 1535 Stewart 766.
Than furth tha fuir with mony courtas knycht a1568 Scott xi. 43.
Be courtas in ȝour cumpany (a1570-86 Dunb.) Maitland Folio MS cxlix. 43.
Be I courtas, nobill, and fre, A prodigall man than am I prysit (c 1580) Alex. i. 1419.
Richt large, weill luiffit and courtais, The gude auansit he alwayis 1594 Reg. Privy C. V. 165.
That thay … retene nane in thair cumpany bot sic as ar discreit, courtas, of gude inclinatioun
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"Courtas adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/courtas>
