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

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

Besy, a. Also: besye, besey, besie, bessie, beisse. [ME. besy, bessy, besé, var. of bisy, etc., Bissy a.] Busy, diligent, occupied with work.

1. Of persons, or animals (cf. Be n.) and transf. of things.Freq. followed by infinitive or other construction. 1375 Barb. ii. 571.
Ay travailland and besy a1400 Leg. S. x. 466.
Sa wes he besy to tak wrak c1420 Wynt. iv. 1620.
The women … besy wes Layand stanys 1456 Hay II. 46/19.
Besy in tyme of nede Ib. 77/15.
Besy and diligent of thy governance 1475 Peebles B. Rec. 173.
He beand beisse of techyn c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 217.
Dissymulance was besy me to sile 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 58.
I am besy with our story of Scotland a1585 Maitl. Q. xlv. 18.
My pen wes bessie till endyite 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 63.
We ar besy solistand [etc.]

2. Of care (esp. besy cure), Attention, action, etc. a1400 Leg. S. v. 211.
He … has besy thocht of the kepynge 1416 Liber Melros 539.
At our speciale instance and besy request 1456 Hay I. 166/7.
Thair besy cure for … the commoun proffit 1473 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 331.
Makand besy and gude service tharfor 1483 Ib. 335.
To … do thair besy diligence 1533 Bell. Livy II. 173/9.
Ane ythand and besy werk c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1248.
I sall do my besye cure to tak the best a1586 Lindsay MS. 83.
Men … that mycht sustene besy moving of thair memberis