Obs. or only Sc. Forms: 1 cúþ, 2–4 cuð, cud, 3 cuþ, kuð, 3–4 couþ, 4 cuth, cuþe, couþe, kouþ, cowthe, couht, coud, kowd, 4–6 couthe, kouth(e, 5 cowþe, 6 kowth, 3– couth. [OE. cúð, pa. pple. of the vb. cunn-an CAN, corresp. to OS. cûth, cuð, OHG. kund, chund, chunt (MHG. kunt, Ger. kund), Goth. kund-s known.]
† 1. pa. pple. passing into adj. Known. Obs. (See also NAME-COUTH.)
a. 1000. Riddles, lxxxix. 1 (Gr.). Ic eom … eorlum cuð.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 114/279. Þat word was sone wide couth.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22140 (Cott.). Fra north to soth, He sal do mak his sarmun cuth.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. xiv. 7. How schal it be kowd that is songun?
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 692. This name of thraldom was neuere erst kowth.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. v. As it is kouthe as well nigh as ferre.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert, 5510.
| Þare was þe kirk of tynemouth’ | |
| Of cuthbert right to all’ men couth’. |
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Couth, knowne.
† 2. adj. As a quality of things: Known; well-known, familiar. Obs. Cf. the negative UNCOUTH.
a. 1000. Daniel, 692. Ðæt wæs þara fæstna folcum cuþost.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 204. Heo beoð, more herm is, to monie al to kuðe.
c. 1300. St. Margarete, 65. Mi cunrede he seide is couþ.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 578. To be keture y-kid þan any kouþ peple.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. ii. 131. This couth surname.
† 3. Of persons: Well-known, familiar. Obs.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. lxxxvii[i]. 8. Feor ðu me dydest freondas cuþe.
c. 1205. Lay., 2446. Alle þat cuðe folk.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24721 (Gött.). Þat blithful brid … þat þu sua cuth was till.
c. 1450. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 249. Euery man boþe fremyd and kouth.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 270. Sen tha till him most kyndlie war and couth.
† 4. Noted, renowned, famed. Obs.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Exod., 230. Cuþes werodes.
c. 1200. Ormin, 9240. Sannt Johan i wessteland Wass wurrþenn cuþ þatt time.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2666. Wið faigered and strengthe kuð.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 5053. Comli castelles and couþ and cuntres wide.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2638. My fader was a philisofer … & his nome kouthe.
1557. Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 105. D eserts of Nymphs, that auncient Poets showe, A r not so kouth as hers.
† 5. Acquainted, familiar. (with, of, or dative.)
a. 1225. Juliana, 22. Ȝef þu cneowe ant were cuð wið þe king.
c. 1275. Luue Ron, 104, in O. E. Misc., 96. Mayde to þe he send his schonde And wilneþ for to beo þe cuþ.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24711 (Cott.). Crist made þe cuth of his consail, And priuest of his kin.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert, 842. Þare was thre clerkes of þe southe Of england, with þe bischop couthe.
6. Kind, affable, agreeable, pleasant: said of persons and their actions; = COUTHIE 1. Sc.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3659. Wiþ clipping and kesseng and alle couþe dedes.
c. 1450. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 46. I was faine Of that couth word and of his companie.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 225. Comly lady good and couthe.
1728. Ramsay, 1st Answ. to Somerville, 76. Nor will North Britain yield for fouth Of ilka thing, and fellows couth To ony but her sister South.
7. Comfortable, snug, cosy: = COUTHIE 2. Sc.
a. 1749. Sir J. Clerk, The Miller. His house was warm and couth And room in it to hold me.
1788. R. Galloway, Poems, 182 (Jam.). A mankie gown … Did mak them very braw, and unco couth.
† 8. absol. = Acquaintances. Obs.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. lxxxvii. 18. Mine cuðe [notos meos].
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lxxxvii[i]. 9. Fer made þou mi kouth [Wyclif my knowen] fra me.
a. 1400. Octouian, 792. Loke boy, ne be naught betrayd Of kouth ne strange.
