What does coft mean?
"Coft" is the Scots form of the past tense and past participle of the verb meaning "to buy," so that a Scot might say he "coft" bread, cloth, or cattle where other English speakers would say they "bought" them. The word descends from the Old Norse "kaupa," the same Germanic trading word that lies behind the English "cheap" (via Old English "cēap") and survives in "chapman," an old term for a merchant. Although standard English settled on "bought" centuries ago, "coft" endured in Scottish speech and writing, giving it a distinctly northern, rustic character today. It is rarely encountered outside Scots literature, dialect poetry, and quotations of older texts, but within those contexts it remains authentic living heritage rather than mere affectation. For readers of Burns or modern Scots prose, recognising "coft" is a small key to understanding everyday transactions described across centuries of Scottish writing.
verb"Coft" is a Scots past-tense and past-participle form meaning "bought" or "purchased." It is now largely confined to Scots dialect and literary usage.
- (Scots, transitive) Bought; purchased — past tense and past participle of the verb meaning to buy.
"He coft a new plough at the Martinmas fair."
"She coft the wool from the travelling merchant."
"What he coft for twopence he sold for a shilling."
In Scotland, you didn't buy it — you coft it: a word that's been quietly surviving since the Vikings brought it ashore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coft
Coft comes from Old Norse "kaupa" ("to buy, trade"), adopted into Scots during the period of extensive Norse influence on northern Britain. It shares a deep Germanic root with Old English "cēap," which gives us modern "cheap" and "chapman," reflecting a common vocabulary of medieval trade. While southern English developed "bought" as the standard past tense of its own borrowing lineage, Scots retained "coft" as the ordinary way to say "bought," preserving the Norse-derived form into the present day.
How coft is actually used
Chiefly Scots and literary; unfamiliar or archaic to most modern English speakers outside Scotland. It carries a rustic, traditional flavour and is best used deliberately for regional colour or quotation of older texts.
Easily confused with coft
A "croft" is a small agricultural holding or enclosed field, especially in Scotland, whereas "coft" is the Scots past tense of "buy."
"Cost" refers to the price paid or expense incurred, while "coft" specifically denotes the act of having bought something.