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.
Quotation dates: 1438-1611, 1682
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Sport, v. [Late ME and e.m.E. sport(e (both c1400), aphetic f. Disport v.; Sport n.1]
1. reflex., intr. and tr. To amuse oneself, entertain or recreate oneself by an activity or pastime; to amuse oneself with (something), to enjoy (something).The Melvill quot. is probably erroneous.reflex. ?1438 Alex. ii 1538.
Ilk man, me think, to schaw his steid Or sport him-self, assayis his weid ?1438 Alex. ii 2174.
Amang thame made thay play and gamyn, To solace and to sport thame samyn ?1438 Alex. ii 2714.
Quhen vther folk to battell can ga, Than fleis thow to wod to gamin, To sport thé and thy hounds samin 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 30.
Quha sportis thame on the spray sparis for na space a1540 Freiris Berw. 394.
Thay sportit thame, and makis mirry cheir With sangis lowd, baith Symone and the freir 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 9737.
The empreour come furth … Of his palice to sport him and to play 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii 393.
A prelat ane day in his bed, to sport him, Did clap his lufe with kisses soft and sweit a1605 Montg. Sonn. li 2.
Suete nichtingale! in holene grene that han[ts,] To sport thy selfintr. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v 660.
He walkit for to sport On to the kyrke quhar scho maid residence a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 724.
He passit to sport in the orchart 1531 Bell. Boece II 259.
It hapnit … that Banquho and Makbeth wer sportand togiddir at thair suppertr. 1513 Doug. viii x 84.
Abowt hir pappys … The twa twynnys, … Sportand ful tayt gan to wrabill and hyng a1568 Scott xxviii 7.
Quhen that I went with that sweit may, To dance, to sing, to sport and pley [etc.] 1570 Satirical Poems xxii 59.
Anis sall cum the day, Pluk at the craw quhen barnis sall with this bird: Or Blind Hary with hir to sport and play 1600-1610 Melvill 660.
The king red thame [sc. documents] all ovir quhill as the rest wer sporting [Adv. MSS speaking]
2. tr. To amuse (a person), provide with amusement or entertainment. a1540 Freiris Berw. 184 (B).
Scho rownis than ane pistill in his eir, Thus sportand thame, and makand melodyfig. 1611 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 4.
Quhill Beutie by a pleasant spring reposes … The cooling air … rejoyses To sport hir with hir locks, o'rcume with wonder
3. intr. To flirt, make fun, dally with (a person). 1682 Kingarth Par. Rec. 133.
[He] denyd all intention of committing filthines but that he only sported with her and did her no wrong
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"Sport v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sport_v>
