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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dry, v. Also: drye, drie, drey, dray. [ME. drye, drie, drey, etc., OE. drýᵹan.]

1. tr. To remove (moisture) by wiping, evaporation, or other means; to empty of water. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1600.
At the last hir rany teres [being] Dryed a litill c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 60/11.
Gif … the son … strik apone a stane quhar thair is ane drope of watter it sone dryis it and puttis it awaye 1551 Hamilton Cat. 38.
We suld understand him to be … the well quhilk can nocht be dryit a1578 Pitsc. I. 104/29.
The earle … dryit the teairis frome his eieis 1585 James VI Ess. 73.
The balmie dew through birning drouth he dryis

2. To free from moisture; to make dry. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1819.
The carll … It steipit in the burn, and dryit syne 1490 Irland Mir. I. 82/8.
Marye Magdalene … wosche his feit, and with hire … haire clengit and dryit thame 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 251.
For brakanys and hedder to dry the burdis wyth 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 84.
The saidis guids [to be washed] … and to remane furth for the space of aucht dayes quhill thai be dryit 1512–3 Treas. Acc. IV. 465.
For vj turs of hadder for to dry the tollis [= towis] 1522 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 217.
All baxteris … till baik thair breid sufficientlie and weill dryit 1561–2 Inverness B. Rec. I. 75.
Malt that beys weyll dreyit a1605 Montg. Flyt. 74 (T).
Condempnit to be dryd, and hung vp fra hand 1596 Dalr. I. 65/12.
Al thair fishe dryet in the sone, in thame thair riches consistes 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 10.
The malt … being drayit in the grund 1633 M. Works Acc. XXVIII. 20 b.
Twa laid of colles to dray thrie stand of the kingis armesfig. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 104.
The curst contemnaris of the treuth … Ar clene dryit vp frome euerye kynd of grace

3. intr. To become dry. a1500 Seven S. 1638.
Than slokinnit the fyre & dryit the well a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 519.
Thy dok of dirt dreipis, and will newir dry c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 75.
In somer quhen the streitis dryis a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvi. 5.
Of duill and dolour so I dry 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 137.
He put sex meillis of aittis upoun his kill to dry