A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1456
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Outh, Owth, prep. and adv. Also: outhe, owthe, howth, outht, oucht, wth. [Origin obscure; perh. OE. uf- above (see Ove adv.) and -with. Only early.] Above. 1. prep. Above in position, also, in authority, over; above the top of; on top of. 1375 Barb. x. 746.
And wrat owth [E. oucht, H. on] him … In Franch, gardis wous de francois 1375 Ib. xi. 614. 1375 Ib. xiv. 352 (E).
A litill outh quhar he herbryit had Schyr Eduuard 1375 Ib. xvii. 597 (C).
Of great gestis ane sow thai maid That stalwart heling owth [E. abowyn, H. outwith] it had 1375 Ib. xi. 614. a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 673.
Nero … owth his hevid sittand thar Brandiste a brand 1389 Wemyss Chart. II. 23.
Landys and possessionys … als wele vndyr erd as wth 1394 Argyll Chart. MS.
Outh the erd as under c1420 Wynt. i. 694.
Sum owth thair fete thare solys hawys c1420 Ib. 1577.
Bot that he wes howth [C. outht, W. outh] vs sete To be rygnand a planete c1420 Ib. iv. 2241.
Haldand owthe the wattyre ay Hys a hand c1420 Ib. iii. 336.
Outht c1420 Ib. iv. 2547.
Outh c1420 Ib. v. 72, 2566, 3457, vi. 855, etc.
2. adv. Above. Also at outh, above in authority.1375 Barb. xviii. 418 (C) (see Ove adv.). c1420 Wynt. v. 3594.
For at the nawyll it was a mas And outhe and neuthe dyvysyd it was, Wytht … hewydys twa 1456 Hay I. 36/29.
Sum men wenis to be at outhe and abune that is at undir 1456 Ib. 290/29.
And that he … sall halde thair worship and estate at outhe and at hicht
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"Outh prep., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Jul 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/outh>
