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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.

Outmost, a. Also: outt, owt-. [e.m.E. and late ME. outmost, (14–15th c.) outermost, (1447) final, most complete: cf. Outmast, Outmest. Also written as two words.In sense i, 17th c. Sc. follows e.m.E. In sense 2, appar. not recorded in this form (as distinct from utmost) in e.m.E.]

1. Outermost; farthest outlying. 1622 D. Lindesey Heavenly Chariot 40.
The heade of some dead corpse having in the outmost part of it a little voyde 1646–7 Dumbarton Treas. Acc. MS.
And iron bandes to the outmost ends of the keptrie 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 304.
Item it wants the outmost dore with the mid halfe dore 1656 Lanark Presb. 100.
Being in the outmost corner of the parish 1682 Lauder's Observes App. iv. 303.
Ane mastiff tyke who keept the outmost gate

2. a. Uttermost, utmost. 1661 Banff Ann. I. 144.
I … sall at the out most power defend … his maiesties jurisdictione 1669 Jus Populi i.
To use his out-most endeavour to deceive [etc.] 1708 Conv. Burghs IV. 475.
To use outtmost endeavours in behalf of the merchants

b. absol. The utmost, the farthest or greatest extent or degree, the very most, the limit.Variously const.(1) c1610 Melville Mem. (1683) 88.
We … promise … to use the outtmost of our endeavours … to [etc.](2) 1680 Aberd. Council Lett. VI. 221.
Bot the colledge are doeing ther outmost to gett the Lord Forret … to [etc.] 1687 Cramond Kirk S. II. 5 June.
[To] doe the outmost of his diligence for that effect(3) 1679 J. Somerville Mem. II. 76.
This letter was naked enough and … might have sufficiently manifested the outmost of Marre's intentione 1693 Cramond Kirk S. III. 17 Apr.
Which was the outmost that ever Barntouns authors pretended(4) 1654 Beale Fife Schools 134.
That the 60 lib. … sould be sufficiently payed to the owtmost of their power 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 49.
He is not only able to save to the outmost, that is perfectly and compleatly and, as it were, every bit and crumb 1668 J. R. Tudor The Orkneys & Shetland (1883) 625.
You streatch your selff to the out-most to bear down sin 1696 Acts X. 33/1.
To the outmost of our power(5) 1680 Cunningham Diary 21.
Which pays 2 full weeks of the said month at the outmost the compt can reach