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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Portative, adj. and n. Also: -atyve. [ME and e.m.E. portatyf (Piers Plowman), -if, -ive, portetyve, adj. portable, also as noun = portable breviary (north., 1454), ? tray (a 1483), portative organ (1526–7), F. portatif, -ive, adj., f. L. portātus p.p. of portāre to carry.]

A. adj. 1. Able to be transported (by water); that can be carried from place to place, portable. 1536 Q. Margaret in St. P. Henry VIII V 43.]
[That tha ma be portative be wattyr for carying of thar veveris and uthyres necyssares 1568–9 Edinb. B. Rec. III 259.
The deyne of gild to caus mak ane poupat, portative, to be set vp in the Over Tolbuth for preiching to the papistis

2. Only Sc.: Navigable.Cf. Portabill adj. 2 b. 1570 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) I 84.
And at thair setting fuit on dry land thay ar in the hert of the cuntrie upoun ane portative ryver commodious for sending bak to France or resaving help 1587-99 Hume 153/56.
At the foot of the devalling bank, there is … a faire portatiue river running by 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 466.
Outher to bring thame to the heid burgh of the schyre quhair thair is a portative revar to carry thame, and failyeing thairof, to the maist commodious sey port of the schyre 1613 Conv. Burghs II 391.
And to mak the passages be water po[r]tative to the saidis bottis c 1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 540.
The river … in winter is portative for boats to bring them up to the fresche loch 1666 Glasgow Chart. II 72.
The river not being portative at the said citie of Glasgow for veshells of great burden Ib. 85.
The river not being portative to Glasgow

B. noun. A portable organ.In plur., also in sing. sense. 1449 Exch. R. V 337.
Pro uno pari de portatyvez domino regi … empto a Simone Wricht, x li. c1450-2 Howlat 765 (A).
Claryonis lowde knellis, Portatiuis, and bellis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 503.
Schalmes, clariounis, portatiues, hard I ring 15.. Clar. ii 1651.
The dulcat playit also with portative