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

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

Swift, adj. (adv.). Also: swifte, swyft, suift, suyft, sweft, swuft, swoft(e, suofte, switht, swycht. [ME and e.m.E. swifte (Layamon), squyft (Cursor M.), swyft (Rolle), swefte (14th c.), OE swift.]

A. adj. 1. (Capable of) moving speedily, fast, rapid, fleet (of foot, etc.). Also const. to do or in doing (something).(1) (a) ?1438 Alex. i 463.
Into this message mon ȝe ga On bausand that … Is suifter than is foull of flicht ?1438 Alex. ii 3436.
My steid is … Staluart and swyft and weill at hand c1450-2 Howlat 138 (A).
Send the letteris in to seir landis With the swallowe so swyft a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 254.
Nixt … come lady Cynthia The last of all and swiftest in hir spheir c1490 Irland Asl. MS 41/20.
Prayere & vrisoun the quhilk is the mast swift messingere … that thou may send to God c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 143/78.
Scho send the swyfte ro To bring in beistis of all conditioun 1513 Doug. v ii 49 (Sm.).
The swiftast schippis of our navy 1513 Doug. vii xiii 64.
Throu the speid of fut in hir rynnyng The swift wyndis [to] prevert and bakwart dyng c1590 J. Stewart 226 § 104.
As from mylfa suift vater doune dois rout 1596 Dalr. I 87/6.
That swift and vehement arme of the sey … betuene Orknay and Cathneise 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII 140.
Playing the swift nots on the viollin(b) a1538 Abell 30b.
Thai staw ane dog … maist sweft hardy of ony othir(c) 1533 Gau 66/30.
Our bodis sal be na mair hewy or sweir bot swuft(d) 1596 Dalr. I 7/25.
Swofte dogs called grewhundes 1596 Dalr. I 91/3.
In swiftnes of fute, in quhilke thay walde ouirrin the swoftest horse 1596 Dalr. I 350/4.
Suofte 1596 Dalr. II 17/27.
Men of weir, threscor and ten, parte swofte schips, parte barkis(e) 1375 Barb. ii 120.
For thar is na hors in this land Sa swytht [1571 wycht] na ȝeit sa weill at hand(2) 1531 Bell. Boece I 80.
The Romanis … swift of rink, and reddy to every kind of jeoperde a1538 Abell 65a.
King Ethus wes sa swift of fut at he wald nerrest our ryn the hart 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1722.
He had ane falcon … Richt swyft of wing 1596 Dalr. I 25/20.
They … ar sa snell and suift of flicht(3) 1494 Loutfut MS 34a.
A man … rycht swift to ryn oure landis(4) 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 194.
All those whose hands are readie & their feit suift in shedding of blood

b. Of movement or activity: Taking place or executed speedily. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 237.
And with swift course atour the flude thai frak a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 5/9.
Halking huntting and sweft hors rinning Is chenget all in wranguis vinning 1668 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 249.
That no persone ryde vpon the streets at any swift paise(b) 1609 Crim. Trials III 42.
The said Lord Maxvell eschapit with suitht flycht

2. Of rapid onset; happening without delay; prompt. 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI (1975) 50.
In respect of the suift and suddan falling owt of the events efter the threats and the vnusuall maner of the samen

B. adv. 1. = Swiftly adv.(a) ?1438 Alex. i 1884.
The renȝe of his brydill brak, And Ferrand thair-with held his way, Sa suyft that ferly was to say a1500 Henr. Fab. 1788 (Bann.).
The suallow suyft [OUP swyth] put furth a piteous pyme 1494 Loutfut MS 17a.
The tigre is a rycht licht best gangand swift as ane arow 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1077.
Samin furth we ryding all bedone Als swift as thocht c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 236 (B).
In twynkling of ane ee to schip thay went And swift vp saill vnto the top thay stent 1513 Doug. i iv 54.
Swift fleand arowis 1513 Doug. xii xii 95.
Swyftar than the wynd he fled 1596 Dalr. I 5/15.
The windis … blawis oft verie vehement, swifte, and with a horrable sound(b) 1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 59.
The dole soone dealt, mans lyff sweft done(c) 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 85.
Thow … rann … als swoft … as ane arrow culd be schot furth of ane bow