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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Abbay, n. Also: abbaye, abbai, abay, abey; abba, aba; abby. [ME. abbay (13th c.), abbey, OF. abaie, abbaie (mod. F. abbaye), late L. abbādia, abbātia, f. abbāt Abbot.] An abbey. 1375 Barb. xx. 599.
At the abbay of Melros 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
The parys auter of the Abbay of the Halyrudehous a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 52.
Na man … In abay, na in vildirnes c1420 Wynt. vi. 235; etc.
Sa mony Abbays fowndyde he As lettyrys ar in the A, B, C 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. 105.
Kyrkis with outheris possessionis gyfyn to the sayd abbay in almus c1475 Wall. viii. 516.
Abbays thai spard, and kyrkis quhar thai ȝeid 1490 Reg. Dunferm. 21.
The alemosener of the aba of Dynfermlyn c1515 Asl. MS. I. 250/6.
In his tyme sanct Colme come in Scotland and biggit mony abbais 1535 Stewart 59641.
He spulȝeit hes the plesand fair abba … In Maldosens of sanct Fiancorus 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 165.
Thow suld haue sene hir Coronatioun, In the fair Abbay of the Holy rude 1561 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 286.
Fermorar of the fruitis of the Abbaye of Lundoris a1578 Pitsc. I. 341/29.
King Harrie … wald cause him to cast doune the abbayis of Scotland 1622-6 Bisset II. 44/13.
King Mordoch … founded the abbay of Quhythorne 1641 Acts V. 602/2.
The forsaid abay of Glenluce 1691 Foulis Acc. Bk. 135.
The tennis court at the abay

2. In attrib. use, as in abbay kirk, land, place, ȝett. 1505 Crosraguel Chart. I. 63.
Foure dwelling-houssis … at the abbay yete 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 317/1.
The said abbot [of Melrose], abbay landis and gudis thairof 1531 Bell. Boece I. 232.
The abbay kirk was dotat efter be King Malcolne the madin 1546 Acts II. 470/1.
Abbayis, abbay placis, … chapellis and vtheris speretuale mennis housis 1543 Carte Northberwic 64.
Wythin the bundis … of the … abay landis of Northt Berwyk a1578 Pitsc. II. 89/17.
The Frenchemen … montit artaillȝe … wpoun the wallis of the abbay kirk 1570 Leslie 72.
The King and Quene … lodged in the abby placeis a1605 Birrel Diary 8.
Ther wes daily placketts … sett upone the Abby yett of Holyroudhous

3. Abbay croun, a coin minted at Holyrood, current in the latter part of the 16th century. 1560 Stirling Merch. Guilds 75.
Thre crownis of the rois, thre abay crownis 1561 Edinb. Deeds 14.
Thrie ryderis, … ane abaye croune, thrie crownes of the kyng 1569 Edinb. Test. I. 232.
xxiij crownis of the sone and ane abbay crowne, the price of the pece xxxv s. 1592 Acts III. 527/1.
The abbay croun [sall now gif] liij s. iiij d.