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

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

Ȝouth(e, Ȝowth(t, Ȝewth, n. Also: youth(e, yhouth, yougth, ȝowthe, ȝowutht, ȝowith, yowth(t, yowght, yewyth, ȝeuth(e, ȝuthe, yuith(e. [ME and e.m.E. ȝuweðe (c1200), youhþe (a1250), yhouthe (a1300), ȝouþe (Manning), youthe (1390), ȝowith (c1400), yought (c1425), OE ᵹeoᵹuþ.]

1. Youth, the fact or state of being young, esp. as exemplified in particular characteristics. Also proverb. and personified.(a) a1500 Henr. Praise of Age 17.
The state of youth [Makc. ȝowutht, B. ȝowth] I repute for na gude c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 477.
Bachilleris blith blumyng in ȝouth c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 89.
His Spainȝe cloik … Betakinnit ȝouth and curiositie c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 224.
Ȝe suld haue bene my spous and paramour … Quhilk I refusit, throw ȝouth and insolence 1567 G. Ball. 26.
In ȝouth with lustis daill Or aige with sorrow me assaill a1578 Pitsc. I 24/26.
He was ane ȝoung man of singular guid appeirance in the begining. Bot alaice the tendar ȝouth gif it be nocht brocht vp in the fear … of God is so eassielie corrupped 1587-99 Hume 11/2.
Alace, how lang haue I delayed To leaue the laits of youth? 1615 Highland P. III 279.
Yf through yougth and evil counsall I did [etc.](b) a1568 Kennedy in Bann. MS 53a/17, 19, 21.
O bittir ȝowith that semis delitious … O restles ȝowth hie, hait and vicious … O frawart ȝowth [M. ȝouthe] [etc.] a1568 Scott xxx 9.
For ȝowth and will ar so consors … Thay rin lyk wyld vndantit hors a1568 Clerk in Bann. MS 255a/29.
Misgovernit ȝowth makis gowsty age 1547 Knox I 195.
By your authoritie the people may be moved the rather to beleve the trewth, whareof many dowbtes be reassone of our yowght(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 61/38.
Agane the law of kynd thow gois expres, That crukit aige makis on with ȝewth serene c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 66/86.
Is non but grace of God, I wis, That can in ȝewth considdir this [etc.] … Now cumis aige quhair ȝewth hes bene 15.. Clar. i 1430.
Hir ȝoung dochter scheine, In ȝeuth uprysing wounder fair to seine 15.. Lichtoun in Bann. MS 48a/34.
Gife thow mispendit hes thy tyme bipast Throw ȝewthis rege 1612 Fraserburgh Kirk S. I 4 (12 Aug.).
His foleis of ȝewthproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1159.
Rewl yowth weel & eild wil rewl the selfpersonified a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 8, 16.
O ȝowth, be glaid in to thi flouris grene! … O ȝowth [Makc. ȝowtht] thi flouris fedis ferly sone c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 154.
Syne tender Youth come wyth hir virgyns ying a1568 Kennedy in Bann. MS 52b/9.
Grene ȝowth, to aige thow mon obey … Thy foly lustis lestis skant ane may

2. The time of a person's being young, the early part of a person's life; the time prior to maturity or adulthood. Chiefly const. possess. adj.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 110/63.
Most fortunable chiftane, bothe in yhouth and eild(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 61/34.
Nychtingale, Sall folk thair ȝewth spend in to holines? 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 528.
Quhat gret mysreule … Quhen our ȝong prince could noder spek nor gang During his tender ȝouthe and innocence [etc.] 1533 Boece 224a.
In the flurissing ȝouth of this Fergus c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 37.
Sa I intend … Descryue the deidis and the man Quhais ȝouth did occupie in lufe Full plesantlie c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 5.
My ȝouth is gane and eild now dois resort My time is gane [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 596.
Quhare cunnyng men … in thare ȝouth … Hes leirnit Latyne 1562-3 Winȝet I 5/31.
We confesse … to haue bene in our ignorant and inexpert ȝouthe [etc.] 1575 Rep. Hist. MSS, Var. Coll. V 100.
Me, quha ever fra my yewyth has bene repute … ane honest gentillwoman 1596 Dalr. I 120/28.
Lat thair sones frome thair ȝouth vp studie to the lawis(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxv 3.
I trawalyt oft in sere place, Sic thing in my ȝuthe to lere Quhare-with myn elde I mycht stere

b. A characteristic or quality of being young, youngness as exemplified in a person with regard to his or her state of mind or body, behaviour, etc. Also personified and transf. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 49.
To suich delyte It was to see hir ȝouth in gudelihede That [etc.] a1500 Quare Jel. 207.
Allace the sad greuance Ȝe suffering men ofe euill condicioun … Ȝoure [sc. woman's] fairhede goth, ȝour ȝouth is brocht adoun 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 250.
Quhilk poysoun wes expellit be his youth a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 127 (Wr.).
His youth and stature made mee stoutpersonified 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 93.
To flie I long'd … Ȝit loth to trust in Cupid's wings Tuix danger and desyer … Ȝouth newer ceas'd to blo, Forging affectiounes fyre. Bot ressoune then perceauing my estait [etc.]transf. 1653 Binning Wks. (1725) 410/2.
[The sun] puts a youth upon the world

3. Young persons, coll. and pl.; the young. b. sing.coll. a1500 Quare Jel. 191.
O tendir youth that stant in innocence Grundid on treuth, sadnes and pacience, Wommen I mene, all vicis contempnyng … Full paciently in to this erth lyving 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 10.
Quhairthrow the myndis of honest men ar alienatit … ȝouth is abusit and corruptit: the authour and his warkis, schamefullie blottit 1569 Reg. Privy C. I 675.
[The regent] hes fund the saidis personis … unmeit to haif cure of the instructioun of the yowth 1579 Acts III 180/1.
Item that the ȝowth may atteane vnto perfite knawlege of humanitie and trew philosophie 1588 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 120.
To teiche … the haill youth and bairnis … samony as sall be send to the scoill 1594–5 Ayr B. Acc. 186.
For taffatie to the youth for the bend of the papingo 1596 Dalr. I 319/8.
He prepares a stout armie of noble and valȝeant ȝouth 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. V 64.
The bailleis and ȝouth of the toun 1598 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 164.
To admitt the said Thomas Makie to be ane teacher and instructor of the yowtht within thair brught 1620 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 258.
He … is to bring vp the ȝeuthe in musikpl. 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 349.
‘Stay, stowtly ȝowthes' she sayes ‘who heir resorte’ 1621 Perth Kirk S. 9 Jan.
A most prophane persoun and temper of ȝouthis 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 51.
Monny yuithes yet wanntis educatioune 1666 Edinb. B. Rec. X 19.
Act anent the wapon shawing ordoring the marching of the merchant and trads youthsb. 1596 Dalr. I 134/29.
Ferleg forsaid sone to King Fergus … requires the realme frome Ferithar. Frilie Ferithar it grantes eftir quhilke Ferleg he bringes afore the senat quhair he … professis that he wil renunce al gouerneng baith for his alde age and to gyue place to the lawful ȝouth quha rycht be lyne was sproung of the kingis blude 1600-1610 Melvill 66.
A lustie youthe in his mideage 1657 Balfour Ann. III 412.
The ȝouthe was sentenced to be publickly bettit 1680 Lauder Observes 7.
James Skein a wryter youth brother to the Laird of Skeen … As for James Skeen, tho formerly knowen to be a simple lad, yet [etc.]