Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sclent, Sklent, Slant, Slent, v. [ME and e.m.E. slintte (14th c.), sclente (15th c.) (both p.t.), slented p.t. (Malory), sklaunt (1521), slaunt (1692), slant (1698), ON *slenta (Norw. slenta, Dan. slente, Sw. slinta) to slant, slope, slip.] intr. Of (a stroke with) a weapon, also of a missile: To fall, descend or move obliquely; to deviate to the side.Usu. with locative compl.Also, fig., of a reflection. ?1438 Alex. ii 9736.
The suerd sklentit and forby ȝude Glasane doun richt by his face 1513 Doug. vii viii 112.
Of drawyn swerdis sclentyng to and fra The brycht mettale … Castis ane new twynklyng or a lemand lycht Ib. x xiii 51.
The castyng dart … That fleand sclentis on Eneas scheild 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 442.
If the point of the whingear had not sclented aside 1644 Philorth Baron Ct. in Cranna Fraserburgh 38.
The first straik sklentit [pr. skentit], but at the second straik he cuttit his heid 1676 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV 523.
He … strak her throw the goun cloath slenting upon her body 1704 Ellon Presb. 286.
He would cause a durk sklent upon his ribsfig. 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 1668.
The honour to the crucifixe ascriv'd, The purtrate first … Doth hit, but streight sent back, is upwards driven, And by reflexe doth sklent hye way to heauen

b. Of a spinning top: To follow a curving course. 1513 Doug. vii vi 87.
As sum tyme sclentys the round tap of tre, Hyt with the twynyt quhip dois quhirl … Scho smyttyn with the tawys dois rebound, And rynnys about, abowt, in cirkill round

c. fig. To deviate from the truth, or from orthodoxy; to behave in a devious manner. 1581 Burne Disput. (1581) 153.
In this poynt we … ministeris of Scotland sayis that our maister Caluin hes sklentit, quha grantis it to be ane treu sacrament Ib. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 155/6.
Ye ar constranit to sklent and mak the act of Parliament ane buclar for your defence aganis al argumentis

d. fig. To slant at, to allude indirectly to; ? to make sly gibes about (a person). 1610 Melvill 800.
His principall discours wes againes sacrielegious persounes, slanting at the late patrounages

e. As the second element in a compound: See Bog-sclent v.