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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vert, n. Also: verte, wert, verd, weyrd. [ME and e.m.E. veert (15th c.), uerd (c1450), verte (1455), vert (1562), OF vert, F. verd.]

1. Green vegetation growing in woodland or forests. = Grene wod(e n. 1. Also in a place-name. b. specif. As a feudal privilege: The right to cut green wood. For further examples see Venyso(u)n n. 2 b. 1423–4 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 219.
Terris de Lytiluerthyll et de Hairlaw 14.. Acts I 325/1.
[Si quis forestarius inuenerit aliquem attachiabilem pro viridi in foresta [etc.] 14.. Acts I 326/1.]
Si liber homo capiatur pro v[iridi] [Acts I 326/2, gren wode] in foresta 1454 Exch. R. V 669.
Et de xxvij li. de firmis fogagii de Wodcokare et le weyrd nemoris ejusdem 1455 Exch. R. VI 61.
De Wodcokare … le verte nemoris ejusdem 1456 Exch. R. VI 273.
Wert 1457 Exch. R. VI 331.
Verdb. [1319 Acts I 118/2 (see Venyso(u)n n. 2 b (1).)] 1498 Reg. Great S. 522/1.
Cum viridibus arboribus et venatione, viz. le vert et venysoun 1591 McKay Kilmarnock 301.
The aforesaid lands … with privilege of forest courts … and wraik, wert 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Verd.
Verd, vert, from the Latine viride: ane worde vsed in charters and infeftmentes and also in the English lawes, quhair it is called grenehue, and signifies power to cut greene trees or wood. And being committed be them quha hes nocht power to doe the samin, is punished be the foresters or vierders, quha ar called viridarij in the lawes of Normandie and England … licence to … cutte greene wood, was granted be the King be infeftment and disposition conteinand verd … Secondlie, this word verd may be taken for power and licence of pasturage within the kings forrest 1598 Acts IV 162/1.
Vert, wrak, wair, vennysoun, infang theif [etc.] … with all vtheris privilegis and immwniteis of ane frie barroun 1621 Peebles Chart. 99 (see Waith n.² b (c)).
Vert 1636 Comm. Univ. I (Edinb.) App. 31.
Cum … vert, wrak, waith, wair 1697 Dundee Chart. 119 (see Vetch n.).

2. In heraldry: The tincture green. a1586 Lindsay MS 46.
The floriginall colouris in armes … that is to say gold wert plumb leid amerod purpill azure goulis sable and siluer 1673 Dundee Chart. No. 110.
The escutcheon being supported by two dragons … underneath vert