Middle English Dictionary Entry
Scot n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | Scot n.(1) Also scotte, scote, skot(te, schot(te & (in names) sckot, scod(e-, schote, scos-, sceot, shot(t)es-, sot(t)es-, stodes-, settes-, chettes-; pl. scottes, etc. & (chiefly early, gen.) scottene, (early gen.) scotten, scotta, scotte & (?error) sottes. |
| Etymology | From OE Scottas, Sceottas pl., LOE (surname) Scot; cp. L Scōtus, Scottus & OF escot, escot(t)e & OI Skotar. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An inhabitant of Scotland; a native Scot; a Scottish soldier; -- sometimes used anachronistically; (b) in cpds. & combs.: ~ lede, Scotland; the Scots; ~ riveling, a derogatory nickname for a Scot; ~ thede, kingdom (land, reaume) of scottes, Scotland; ~ wade (water), the Firth of Forth; ~ ward, ?Scotland; ?= ~ wath, the Solway Firth; scottes king, king (prince) of scottes, the king of Scotland or of the Scots; langage of scottes, Gaelic; tame ~, a Lowland Scot; wilde ~, a Gaelic-speaking inhabitant of north or west Scotland, a Highland Scot; (c) as a term of abuse; (d) Scotland; -- also pl.; (e) an inhabitant of Ireland; also, a person, orig. Irish, who came to and settled in Scotland; ~ of ir-lond, irish ~, peple of scottes; (f) mistransl. of OF sot fool; (g) in surnames; (h) in place names [see Smith PN Elem.2.113].
Associated quotations
a
- ?1130 Chron.Tbr.B.4 (Tbr B.4)p.214 : Her werþ Anagus ofsleien fram Scotta eere.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5391 : Sone cleopede Columban, þe wes Scottene king, 'Whar beo ȝe mine gumen vt of Galwæiða, Whar beo ȝe mine men ut of Mureine, Whar beo ȝe mine Scottes?'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6168 : Heo hæfden..of Yrlonde Gillemaur þene stronge, of Scottene heo hafden alle þa hæhsten & of Galeweoðe gumen swiðe kene.
- a1325(c1300) Songs Langtoft (Cmb Gg.1.1)p.298 : For Sottes [vrr. Scottis, Skottes] Telle I for sottes.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3570 : Þe king [Arthur] was toward scottlond & awreke him he þoȝte Of scottes & of picars þat euere euele him wroȝte.
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)230 : Tprot, scot, for þi strif!
- a1350 When man as mad (Hrl 2253)13 : When a scot ne may hym hude ase hare in forme þat þe englysshe ne shal hym fynde.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.383 : Scottes [L Scoti] beeþ i-cleped as it were Scites, for he com out of Scythia.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.153 : Now in Brytayne..fyue naciouns woneþ þerynne; þat beeþ Scottes in Albania, þat is, Scotlond, Britouns in Cambria, þat is, Wales..Flemmynges..Normans, and Englischemen.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.157 : Walsche men and Scottes..holdeþ wel nyh hir firste longage and speche, but ȝif the Scottes þat were somtyme confederat and wonede wiþ þe Pictes drawe somwhat after hir speche.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.580 : Alla, kyng of al Northumberlond..was ful wys and worthy of his hond Agayn the Scottes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)191b/b : Scocia hath þe name of scotes þat wone þere ynne.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)71/18 : Arthure him-self went aȝeyne towarde þe Marche of Scotland, ffor messagers tolde him þat þe Scottes hade bisegede Hoel of Britaign.
- (1402) MSS PRO in App.Bk.Lond.E.282 : It schulde been more nede, he supposede, or yat day two ȝeer for to wecchen ye town yan yanne was, for he seide the skottes, walshemen, & frenchemen yei schulden vp.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)5/12 : Schame bityde þe Skottes, for þai er full of gile.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)99 : Þei pleien þe pagyn of scottis, for as scottis token skochen of armes of seynt george..so þes anticristis prelatis taken name & staat of cristis apostlis.
- (1443) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2247 : The logging of hym that calleth hym selve king of France..was brent..and ne had the Scotts myned a wall there he had be ibrent.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7410 : Wel sone after þat þey were come, Þe Scottes & Peytes bataille nome..Þe kyng wyþ Saxons ageyn þem nam.
- a1450 Sentence in YULG 60 (Yale 3.34)54 : Hairy Scot [L Scotte], footed with a boot, wast thou not at the wrestlyng in þe cruk on þe mowne?
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)157/13 : The kyng, conseyuyng weel þat þe Scottis were euyr ontrewe and ful of treson and þei toke neuyr no treus but to make hem strong ageyn us..gadered a grete power for to go onto Scotlond.
- 1468 Doc.in Bentley Excerpta Hist.232 : Then mett hur..dyverce othir nacions, as Esterlynges, Espaynnardes, Lucans, and Scottes; and all were on horsebacke savyng the Scottes, which were all on fote.
- (1473) Paston (EETS)1.464 : He seyde..þat the Kyng sholde northwardys and that þe Scottys sholde make vs werke.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)115 : The French kynge..is compellid to make his armeys and retenues for the defence of his lande of straungers, as Scottes, Spaynardes, Arrogoners.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.73 : The water of Twide..departethe now of the este parte Englische men from Scottes.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)224 : There was concludyd a pes for xv yere with the Schottys..they byn evyr founde fulle of gyle and dyssayte.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.86 : Scottes came of Scota, kyng Pharois doughter..so yt of Peightes, Irish, & of Pharois people collect togethers wer Scottes named, for at the tauerne or at a gatheryng of people or of mony is called a Scotte.
b
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1126 : Þa æfter Michaeles messe com se Scotte kyng, Dauid of Scotlande, hider to lande.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1096 : Humber..ferde ouer Scotte water..& mid bisie i-fihte Brut-lond heo wolden iwinnen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5151 : Sæuarus from Scotte wærð [?read: Scotte-wærd; Otho: þat norþ] seoððe aȝæn wende.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5388 : Sone cleopede Columban, þe wes Scottene king.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10003 : Þer liðen to-somne alle Scotleode, Peohtes & Sæxes siȝen heom to-gæderes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10187 : Chilric gon wende..Al Scot-þeode he ȝaf his ane þeine.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)5317 : Þo nam he alle þe Peutes..and ȝef ȝam þare mochel londe in Scot-leode [Clg: Scot-londen].
- (c1300) Annal.Mon.Waverleia in RS 36.2192 : Rex..exercitum suum per terram apud Scodwade introduxit.
- ?c1300 Songs Langtoft (Frf 24)391 : Tprut! Skot riveling, In unseli timing crope thu out of cage.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.389 : Þe princes of Scottes..beeþ nouȝt i-woned to be annoynt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)192a/a : Bote þe wylde scottes and Irysshe, þey countede grete worshepe to folowe here forfadres in cloþing.
- ?a1400(1165) Doc.in Skene Chron.Picts136 : Primum regnum fuit..Andreas..ab illa aqua optima que Scottice vocata est Froch, Brittanice Werid, Romane vero Scottewattre, id est, Aqua Scottorum; que..currit juxta oppidum de Strivelin usque ad..Tae.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)3/60 : Þare was crakked many a crowne Of wild Scottes and alls of tame.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20670 : To augustele for soth he gaf Þe kyngdum of þe scotes to haf.
- ?c1450 Trivet Constance (Harv Eng.938)235 : Halfe a yere after come tidinges to the kyng that the peple of Albanie..whyche ys the londe of Scottes, were passed theyre boundes.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)5 : Robert Steward, the kyng of Scotis, hadde ii sonnys.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)11 : The Kynge..with his folk passid the water clepid the Scottisshe See toward Saynt Johnnes towne bot iiii myles from the cuntreth of the Wild Scottes.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.455 : The bischoppe Aidanus prechyd in the langage of Scottes [Trev.: Scottische].
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)107/28-30 : Hough many mortale affliccions did the realme of Scottis susteyne by the space of many yeris in the tyme of Robert Brute [vr. Bruce], which at that tyme was Kynge of Scottes.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.426 : Where that the same may easely you mete..whersoeuer ye go Ouer all the mountaynes..Wher the wild Scottes do dwel..That is, in Mare and Garioth also, In Athill, Rosse, Sutherland, and Chatnesse, Mureffe, Lenox, and out ysles I gesse.
- a1600(1472) Rec.Bluemantle (Add 6113)284 : These herauldes before hym..Gyenne, Kinge of Armes, Windesore, Heraulde, Snowden, Herrauld to the Kinge of Scottes.
c
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)476 : That was my suster, Dame Ragnelle; That old scott, God geve he[r] shame.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5316 : Þa stod al þis lond a Carrais aȝere hond, þa nom he al þa Peohtes & sende in-to Scotte [Otho: Scottes; F Escoce].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6051 : Melga & Wanis iwenden in-to Scotten [Otho: Scottes; F Escose], þat lond heo þurh arnden.
e
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)960 : Picars..come attelaste to yrlondes norþ ende Aȝen þat folc of scotlond, & þat folc þat hii founde þere Of þis eldore kunde scottes icluped were.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)993-5 : Vor þe modres [kin] scottes were, so vorþ it is icome Þat þe scottes name is al aboue & þe picars bi nome; Þus scottes among picars come out of yrlonde.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.385 : Out of Irlond, þat is þe propre contray of Scottes [L Scotorum], come Irische men with here duk þat heet Reuda..þe lond is schortliche i-cleped Scotlond, of Scottes þat come out of Irlond and reignede þere inne þre hondred ȝere and fiftene anoon to Reed William his tyme.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.387 : Beda..seiþ þat Laurence..was archebisshop of Scottes [Higd.(2): ȝafe cure pastoralle to the peple of Scottes], þat woned in an ilond þat hatte Hibernia.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.151 : Þe Pictes..toke hem wifes of Irisch Scottes [Higd.(2): Scottes of Yrlonde].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.151 : Irisch Scottes londede at Argoyl, þat is, Scottene Clyf, for Scottes londede þere forto harmye þe Britouns.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.451 : Honorius..sente lettres to þe Scottes [Higd.(2): peple of Scottes] of þe holdynge of Ester day.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.389 : Thre Scottes, Dusblan, Mahbon, Malmunyn..entrede a boote..with owte eny sayle..saylede from Scottelande to Cornewaile in vij daies.
f
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)36/32 : He..lete calle þe toune Berwik vp Twede, and þere þai duellede..þai went ouere þe see into Irland and brouȝt with ham Wymmen..but þe men couþe nouȝt vnderstonde þe langage ne þe speche of þe wymmen, neyþer þe wymmen of þe men, and þerefore þai speken to-gederes as scottes [F sootz].
g
- (c1130) Name in von Feilitzen PNamesDomesday Bk.357 fn. : Sceott.
- (1131) Doc.Durham in Sur.Soc.5856 : Gilberto Scotessun.
- (1166) in Pipe R.Soc.934 : David Scot.
- (1197) Feet Fines Rich.I in Pipe R.Soc.24127 : Willelmus le Scot.
- (1216-72) in Ewen Surnames Brit.154 : Alex. Sckot.
- (1221) Justice in Eyre R.in Seld.Soc.53935 : Ricardus le Scot.
- (1248) Close R.Hen.III60 : Agnes Scot, Escot.
- (1268) Rec.Norwich 1203 : Johanne le Skot.
- (1298) Pat.R.Edw.I364 : John Scotman.
- (1308) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)2.61 : Petrus Scot de Landirans.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3102 : Willelmus Scot.
- (1359-60) in Ewen Surnames Brit.154 : Andrew Scot de Scotas.
- (1379) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames309 : Alexander Scotteson.
- (1384) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)181 : John Skotte.
- (1439) in Ewen Surnames Brit.191 : Ricardo Scot de Scottelande.
- a1550(?a1475) Otterburn (Cleo C.4)111 : Syr davy skotte.
h
- (c1115) in Ekwall Dict.EPN389 : Scotra.
- (c1135) EPNSoc.13 (War.)273 : Soteswalle.
- (1157) in Ekwall Dict.EPN389 : Scottuna.
- (1184) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)246 : Schotton.
- (1190) EPNSoc.13 (War.)273 : Schotewell.
- (1203-6) in Ekwall Dict.EPN389 : Scosthorne.
- (1204) in Ekwall PNLan.173 : Scoteford.
- (1233) EPNSoc.13 (War.)273 : Shoteswell.
- (1235) EPNSoc.13 (War.)273 : Sotteswell.
- (1242) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)54 : Settesbergh.
- (1254) in Ekwall Dict.EPN400 : Schotesham.
- (1265) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)92 : Skotton.
- (1279-81) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)92 : Scottonthorp.
- (1301) in Ekwall PNLan.173 : Schotford.
- (1301) in Ekwall PNLan.173 : Scodford.
- (1303) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)54 : Schotteburgh.
- (1315) EPNSoc.13 (War.)273 : Chetteswell.
- (1323) in Ekwall PNLan.173 : Scodeford.
- (1325) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)54 : Shotesberwe.
- (1330) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)389 : Stodesham.
- (1345) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)118 : Scotteneton.
- (1363) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)92 : Scotton.
- ?c1382 Survey Hatfield in Sur.Soc.3298 : Scothous.
- (1423) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)549 : Scottescroftes.
- (1428) EPNSoc.13 (War.)273 : Shotteswell.
- (1468) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)638 : Skottysheghys.