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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.

Cry, n. Also: crye, cri(e, cray. [ME. cry(e, crie, earlier cri, OF. cri.]

1. A loud call or calling, a shout or shouting. 1375 Barb. v. 115.
Than cesit in-to party The noyis, slauchtir, and the cry Ib. vi. 296; etc.
The Kingis men with that cry Valknyt c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2264.
I … Gart thame thare cris stop in hy c1420 Wynt. ii. 342.
Scho raryde lowde wyth cryis kene Ib. viii. 3469.
Wythowtyn noys or cry [thai] Passyd the wattyr prewaly a1500 Henr. Fab. 481.
As scho wer woid, with mony ȝell and cry, … [the widow] vpon hir breist can beit Ib. 1333.
The … foullis cry, Contending quha suld haif the victorie a1500 Bk. Chess 1798.
Throw the mannis cry Thai walkynnit all that war about nere by c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 93.
Thay nybbillit him with noyis and cry Ib. 115.
The crawis him socht with cryis of cair 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 40.
His cryis dynnyt to the sternys Ib. viii. 2; etc.
Onto the palyce … The schowtis and the cryis callys ws 1533 Bell. Livy II. 103/21.
The cry of Romanis was variant, slaw, & but curage a1540 Freiris Berw. 527.
Out of this troch … Thow rax thé sone, and mak no dyn nor cry a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 103.
Quhill Cupid walkinnes with the cryis Of Natures chapell clarkis (1608) Melvill 761.
The brither, all with one crye, solicitate the Moderator to [etc.]

b. A short space of time. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiii. 20.
Warldly honour lestis bot a cry

c. Out of cry, beyond hearing a call. 1668 Corshill Baron Ct. 79.
He wes out almost of cry of them in thair hearing

2. A cry of grief or pain; a loud lament or appeal for help. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1371.
Gret was the crye Of [= for] Thelamonyus the doughty Ib. 1976.
Cryes of thaim that ware deand c1420 Wynt. vii. 1277.
The modyr than, that herd the cry, And saw hyr barne deyd, wes sary Ib. viii. 3482.
The cry Off men that slayne and stekyd ware 1456 Hay I. 57/19.
It was sa grete pitee to here the crye and the lamentacioun … maid be the peple 1535 Stewart 57778.
With ane loude murmure and ane cairfull cry c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3910.
Without grunschyng, clamor, or crye, That pane he sufferit patientlye 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 24.
Kyngs suld heir the pure mans crye, And helpe thame … in distres a1578 Pitsc. I. 172/1.
Quhen thir lamentatiouns and cryes of the poore come befoir the king he was hevelie commovet 1651 Balfour Ann. IV. 317.
Christian blood, which has a loud cray in the Lordes eares aganist the … contriuers of it

3. A proclamation or announcement; a summons. 1436 Acts II. 23/2.
Al crownaris sal arrest … als wele befor the cry of the air as eftir all thaim that salbe gevin hym in portuis be the Justice clerk 1456 Hay I. 202/9.
Quha ever may be maister, our him is a commoun officer to the king, be his cry Ib. 268/5.
Quhen thai ar in felde, fra the cry be maid, thare na man speke a1500 Henr. Fab. 1065.
This hound of hell Deuorit hes my lamb … in contrair to your cry c1500 Crying of Play 27.
Quha is cummyn heir bot I, … At ȝour cors to mak a cry 1533 Dunfermline Reg. MS. I. 22.
Eftir the proclamatione of the cry of the fayr 1535 Stewart 25271.
Wortigerne … proclamit with ane cry That euerie man [etc.] Ib. 57362.
He … Gart mak ane cry gif ony lad [etc.] 1583 Lanark B. Rec. 88.
Under the cry of the fair and under Godis pece 1593 Acts IV. 49/1.
The multitude of diuers sortis of money … current without ony certane stand or cry

4. A hue and cry. 1498 Acta Conc. II. 102.
The nychtbouris … sal incontinent geve the cry and tak the sade trespassour Ib.
Efter the sade cry be made 1597 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 157 b.
That the haill cuntraymen ryis and resist thame, and that thai rais the cry