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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Solid, adj. Also: solide, -yde, sollid, soleid, -eit, -ett. [ME and e.m.E. solide (Chaucer), solid (1596), sollid (1621), OF solide (1314 in Larousse), L. solidus firm, dense, not hollow.] Solid.

1. Of material objects: Of a dense consistency; hard, firm, compact. 1531 Bell. Boece II 511.
Scho was bot young, and hir bonis not solide 1635 Rogers Social Life I 384.
James Colquhoun … will mak a scheet of lead … to abyd greater extremiteis of wind and weather, nor any scheet of lead vsed heirtofore … in regard to his artifice of making thairof more solide, less poris 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 90.
Some characters cunninglie incisde … In solid marmor 1687 Rothesay B. Rec. 429.
That the said steiple ryse in solid work before the pillars be sett theron ten quarters or therby higher nor the solid work of the present belhouse

b. Substantial, not incorporeal. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 27/18.
[It] is much more possible to him [sc. the Devil] … being a spirite, … to transporte from one place to an other a solide bodie

2. Of non-material things: Of a strong, firm or substantial nature or quality. 1549 Compl. 144/17.
Sa be the discriptione of ony ane of thir tua contrareis, tha gat ane solide knaulage of the tothir c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 55.
In Christ tha byde nocht, we do vnderstand, The quhilk … in that wourd hes nocht ane solyde faith 1580 Cath. Tr. 67/3.
Thow perceaves alradie that the religion … professed in the realme of Scotland, is nocht so soleid and trew as perchance afoir thow beleawed 1581 Burne Disput. 162b.
Thay teache maist healthsum and soleid doctrine 1602 Colville Paraenese 159.
Be not aschamit … to chang … your insolid partialitie for this solid pillar of veritie 1626 Garden Worthies 82.
Soore soleid signes thy observance that shaws, To God, the king [etc.] 1629 Boyd Last B. 61.
Your spirit is so knappish and way-ward, that it will not admit the most solide comfortes 1664 Rothesay B. Rec. 86.
To be twoe friends for desydeing of any controversie that is in debat or shall fall out … and that in calme and solid reasone

b. Of an institution or state of affairs: Established, settled, firmly in place. 1593 St. A. Kirk S. 749.
For satling of ane soleit ministrie to the said kirk 1642 Lennoxlove MS (The Duke of Hamilton) C1/1759.
[In the king's absence] Thair can be no solide quyet in his dominions

3. Of a person: Steady, sensible, reliable. a1605 Montg. Sonn. xviii 12.
As I confyde in King and solid Sharpe 1626 Garden Worthies 139.
A soleid, wise and martiall minded gentleman 1632 Lithgow Trav. ii 71.
The solid and sad man is not troubled with the floods and ebbes of Fortune 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 46.
Simon … his eldest sone … a sollid wise man and a gallant spark

b. Fully possessed of one's mental faculties; of sound mind, sane. 1606 Acts IV 317/1.
Scho tuk occasioun be his infirmitie and waik judgement he being than nocht so solide as wes necessar for the weill of his estait c1650 Spalding II 143.
He wes convoyit home, blood drawin, and becam solid schortlie efteruard ?a1700 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 140.
[It being reported that he was] becam somequhat solid 1726 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 19 Aug.
The Session being convinced … that she was not solid

4. Agreed upon, clearly defined; established or fixed by common consent. a. Of a procedure, or course of action. b. Of a unit of measurement (of weight).a. 1583 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 624.
To treat … for a solid order and forme of provisione of ministers stipends and estate of the kirk 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 61.
A gude and solide ordour for convocating of the ministerie to General Assembleis thaireftir 1591–2 Cal. Sc. P. X 668.
To set down [a good and] solett [course for the maintenance of the religion] 1593 Acts IV 34/1.
Thay may sett doun ane constant and solide ordour to be followit furth thairanent 1605 Glasgow Chart. I i dcviii.
For the want of ane soleid and setlit ordour amongis thame selfis 1607 Highland P. III 101.
We … beseik ȝour Maiestie to latt ws knaw hou far we sall go with the Marques … that at his nixt dyet we may tak some solide conclusioun with him 1608 Highland P. III 114.
Soleit 1614 Bk. Islay 192.
His Majestie haith taken a cours soleit and substantious for the retening of the hous in Iyla 1616 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 130.
A certane solide and sure course how … the scools may be enterteyned 1632 Linlithgow B. Rec. 28 Sept.
To adwyis anent ane soleid forme to be sett downe about the electioune of the magistratis a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 14.
Commissioners appoynted … to appoynt ane solid order for justice befoir the criminall judge 1664 Rothesay B. Rec. 300.
That the counsell meit on Waddinsday nixt quherby ther may be a solide cours takin how the same sall be payitb. 1622-6 Bisset II 208/25.
Concerning the sek of woll thair is na soleid nor certane constant wecht thairof

5. Grounded in fact; capable of being verified or substantiated. 1585 Calderwood IV 318.
If your author of your declaratioun bring not a better and more solide ground to infame or discharge that presbyterie [etc.]

6. Of a written text: Based on sound principles, reliable, authoritative. 1593 Reg. Privy C. V 111.
That thair wes nocht sa solide substantious and perfyte ane grammer yitt sett doun

7. Of one's way of life or behaviour: Decent, respectable; principled. c1590 Fowler II 29/24.
Estemit not solid leuing or cumly commendatioun

8. Of wisdom: Sound, firmly-based. 1581 Sat. P. xliv 267.
I grant thy visdome soleid for to be a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 283.
The nobillmen … are for the maist part licentiat to liue a libertine life in thair youth, quhairby they become inconstant and variable in thair age; and these be twa great impediments to solide wisdome

9. Of the face or features: Firm, set, impassive. 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 486.
The Chancler commandit the sentence to be red, which he hard with a sollid and unmoved countinance