Chiefly Sc. Forms: 3 ȝuðhede, 4 ȝouþehede, -heed, ȝouthhede, yhouthede, ȝuthed, 4–5 ȝowthed(e, -eid, youthed(e, 4–6 ȝouthed(e, -eid, 5 yowthid, ȝowthehede, youtheed, (yuȝhed), 5–6 ȝowthheid, youtheid, yowthed, 6 ȝouthhed, ȝhouthhed, yowth(h)eid, ȝeutheid, yutheid, ȝowcht-heid, youitheid, 6, 8 ȝouthheid, arch. 8 youthhede, 9 -hed, 9 youth-head, youthhead (Sc. -heid). [f. YOUTH + -HEAD.]

1

  1.  The state of youth, youngness: = YOUTH 1.

2

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 55. Wu he neweð his ȝuðhede, hu he cumeð ut of elde.

3

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paulus), 862. Quhare hele beis ay but seknes, Ȝouthed but eld or wrechitnes.

4

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 3. Till enforme ȝour ȝouthede of mony syndry knaulagis.

5

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), I. 65. Ȝonthheid is without ressoun or ryme.

6

c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xvi. 50. Quha wald the rege of ȝowtheid dant.

7

c. 1730.  Ramsay, Some of the Contents, vi. Quhen eild and spyte takis place of ȝouthheids flame.

8

1819.  Scott, Lett. to Cornet W. Scott, 3 Dec., in Lockhart. Mamma and the girls are quite well, and so is Master Charles, who is of course more magnificent, as being the only specimen of youthhead at home.

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  2.  The time of youth, adolescence: = YOUTH 2.

10

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3592. Quen þai it [sc. eld] haue þai are vnfayn, And wald ha youthed þan again.

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c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xiv. (Lucas), 3. In his ȝouthede leyrit he In antyoche leche to be.

12

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., lxix. 317 (Harl. MS.). My lord god, þat hast y-kept me fro my ȝowthede, kepe me now in þis hour.

13

1526.  Extr. Burgh Rec. Stirling (1887), 29. He was within youitheid and of mynor aige.

14

1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., k iv. All the iust men, florising in thair ȝouthheid.

15

1798.  H. MacNeill, Scot. Muse, xiv. Year after year in youtheid’s prime, Wander he will, frae clime to clime.

16

1814.  Southey, Roderick, XVII. 17. The children, free In youthhead’s happy season from all cares.

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1826.  J. Wilson, Noctes Ambr., Wks. 1856, I. 170. That never was Mr. North’s character, even in lusty youth-head.

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  3.  Youths collectively: = YOUTH 5.

19

1562.  Winȝet, Cert. Tractates, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 23. I iugeit the teching of the ȝouthed in vertew and science, nixt efter the auctoritie with the ministeris of iustice vnder it.

20

1567.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 535. Privatlie or publictlie to instruct the youtheid.

21

1848.  Tait’s Mag., XV. Feb., 123/2. They are literally guilty of having committed the education of ‘the youth-head’ of the country to men whom they consider disqualified to impart the first elements of instruction to their own children.

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