daut, dawt, v. Sc.
(dɒt)
Also 6–8 date.
[Etymology unknown.
If daut, dawt, is, as it appears to be, the proper form, it ought to represent an original dalt: cf. Sc. faut, maut, saut, etc.; but the two 16–17th c. examples of date from Scotch writers of English make even this doubtful. Dalt suggests Gael. dalta foster-child; but, though the word appears to be exclusively Scotch, there is no evidence pointing to a Gaelic origin. Connexion with dote, doat is excluded by the fact that Sc. au, aw, does not answer to Eng. ō from any source. Cf. also daunt v. 6.]
trans. To pet, fondle, caress, make much of. Also absol.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Petit. Gray Horse 49, I was nevir dautit into stabell, My lyf hes bene so miserable. 1573 Commend. Vprichtnes 228 in Sat. Poems Ref. (1891) I. 285 Quha preissis vprichtlie To serue the Lord mon..na wayis dres to daut thame daintelie. a 1598 Rollocke Passion 491–2 (Jam.) The father will make much of his sonne, and allure him..so the Lord dates and allures us. 1633 W. Struther True Happiness 123 Though he datted the Patriarchs by the familiaritie of his divine presence. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 461, I am dawted now and then with pieces of Christ's love and comforts. 1786 Burns Poet's Welcome to Child ii, I, fatherly, will kiss and daut thee. 1853 J. Milne Jrnl. in Life xiii. (1868) 203 My Lord surely dawts his weak foolish child. |
Hence dauted, dawted ppl. a., petted, fondled.
| 1636 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 193, I am handled as softly and delicately as a dawted child. 1692 Scot. Presbyt. Eloq. (1738) 105 Will not a Father take his little dated Davie in his Arms. 1796 Macneill Will & Jean lvii, The tenderest mither, Fond of ilk dear dauted wean. 1851 Cumbrld. Gloss., Dawtet, caressed, fondled. |