Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Thrifty, -ie, adj. Also: thriftee, thryfty, -ie, thirftie. [ME and e.m.E. thrifty (Chaucer), thryfty (c1440); Thrift n.]

1. Thriving, flourishing, prosperous; careful, prudent. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 248.
For pouertee tynis mony gud woman Quhilkis, and thai had thriftee men With gudly, suet, neidfull lewynge, Thai wald neuir do mys for nakyne thinge c1460 Thewis Wysmen 403.
Gif ony man be mar thrifty Na thai, thai haf hyme at enwy c1475 Wall. xi 804.
Ȝon tyrand haldys the rewmys at trowbill bathe, Till thryfty men it dois full mekill scaith … War he away, we mycht at liking ryng As lordys all 1513 Doug. v Prol. 13.
Quha wald be thrifty courtyouris says few credis a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 26/74.
Grace be to thé, gude burges wyffis … Thriftie and of honest lyveis a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 320.
He that borrows and bigs, makes feasts and thigs, drinkes and is not dry, these three are not thirftie [Carmichael thriftie]

2. a. Of a person: Worthy, estimable. b. Of a thing: Profitable, useful.a. 1596 Dalr. I 235 marg.
To wicked men he was euir molestfull all gude men with gret luue … he imbraced [marg. a thryftie man and proffitable ennimie to gluttonie and al vice]b. 1513 Doug. Exclam. heading (Ruddim.).
Aganis detractouris and uncurtas redaris that bene ouer studious … to … spye out faltis or offensis in this volume or ony vthir thrifty werkis c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1549.
Of medicine he … tuke sic delyte, That he did monie thriftie cure