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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fut(e)man, Fitman, n. Also: fwt(t)-, futte-, fuit(t)-, fout-, fote-, fittman. [ME. fote-, fotman (a 1300).]

1. plur. Fighting-men on foot; infantry.(a) 1375 Barb. vii. 531.
Giff fute-men gaiff hym bataille, He suld be hard to wyn ?1438 Alex. ii. 8503.
Quhair euer thay ga, the fecht was heat, Maid neuer fute-men sik debeat 1533 Bell. Livy I. 68/19.
Eftir thame war send certane legiouns of futemen to … cast doun the foresaid ciete to the ground 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 148.
Commissioneris for veseing of the futemen to be rasit withtin the sherefdomes quhair thai dwell 1570 Leslie 211.
The northland men stude at a syd reddy to enforce the fuitmen 1603 Misc. Bann. C. I. *186.
A number of the Englisches futemen being lodged within the Abbay of Haly-Rud hous 1652 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 280.
The lands patt out … thrittine futemen at ane hundreth merkis a peice(b) c1420 Wynt. iv. 993.
All his futmen and archerys … Begouth fayntly for to faylle Ib. 1317.
Off fwt men Foure score off thousand 1456 Hay I. 113/7.
Thare is in bataill thre maneris of folk, that is to say, hors men, fut men, and schip men c1515 Asl. MS. I. 237/19.
The said erll … in the hamecummyng tynt ij^c futmen 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 495/1.
The said Robert … principale capitane; … of our garde, band and cumpany of wageouris, baith futmen and horsmen 1571 Waus Corr. I. 78.
Thair is cumand twa thowsand fut men, thre hundrytht hors men [etc.] 1660 Peebles B. Rec. II. 199.
Paid for ten stone of colle furnished to the gairde … when the futtemen marched to Glasgow(c) 1535 Stewart 21426.
The fitmen all into the feild gart faill 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 129.
That ane certane number of fitmen be resit … of this realme c1590 Fowler II. 72/24.
To entertenye bands & cumpanyes of hors and fit men(d) 1596 Dalr. I. 99/19.
Thay vse … to pas ouer quhair our fote men scairse dar follow

b. sing. A foot-soldier. 1513 Doug. x. xii. 157.
Lychaonyus eik, a fut man, he … slew in the mellé 1533 Boece x. vi. 360.
Kenneth … disagisit, abilȝit as ane fut man 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 130.
Ane ebill sufficient fitman … cled in … ane new doublett of canves

2. pl. Men going on foot; foot passengers. 1547 Stirling B. Rec. I. 50.
The rouim is nocht convenient … that nother hors men, futmen, nor leid men may gudlie pas by but cummir 1591 Reg. Morton I. 176.
Ane fiftei heiland menn of Athoill, all fwt menn 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 288.
The passage … aucht to be … for futemen allanerlie

b. One good at walking. 1615 Highland P. III. 220.
Ȝe maid me to be ane better fuittman in one hour nor I thocht to hawe bein in ane ȝeir

3. A footman as an attendant. 1500 Treas. Acc. II. 316.
To … [a] futman to the Quene 1603 Montgomery Mem. 247.
To my Lady Killders foutman 1619 Edinb. Test. L. 256 b.
Claud Hammiltoun, futeman to his maiestie 1637 Rep. Elphinstone Mun. 25.
Ane doill weid, brydill, curpill and tie withe tua mandell coittis for fitmen