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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.

Effray, n. Also: effraye. [Late ME. effray (Caxton), OF. effrei. Cf. Affray n.]

1. A state of alarm or fear; fright, terror. 1375 Barb. ix. 180 (E).
With sa litill effray Ib. xi. 250.
For-owt effray or abaysing a1400 Leg. S. iv. 352.
The discipulis … In the wane lade it but effray a1500 Bk. Chess 571.
Hir effraye was wounder merwalous 1513 Doug. xiii. i. 42.
With gret effray of slauchter of thar duke 1533 Bell. Livy I. 233/18.
The effray and noyis rissyn tharethrow

b. Freq. in (sic, gret, etc.) effray. 1375 Barb. v. 113 (E).
In sic effray thai baid that nycht Ib. xiii. 270.
Thai War than intill sa gret effray a1400 Leg. S. ii. 314.
He … lewit Nero in sic effray, That he of wit ner can gay c1420 Wynt. iv. 2386 (C).
He than in effraye Stert out of his bede a1500 Henr. Fab. 974.
Luke to this toid, how he wes in effray 1533 Bell. Livy I. 247/19.
The thing that was necessare in sic effray a1540 Freiris Berw. 518.
No wounder thocht his hart was in effray 1567 Crim. Trials I. ii. 494.
He appeared to be in ane greit effray 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV. 821.
The Laird of Balquhane … come to him in effray

2. A cause, occasion, or instance of alarm. c1420 Wynt. ix. 130 (C).
A gret effraye amange thaim ras 1513 Doug. iii. Prol. 12.
Now most I write, … Wild aventuris, monstreis and quent effrays Ib. i. 107.
Eftir this effray was fra my banys went 1533 Boece xiv. xi. 562 b.
The cariage men … to Inglismen war terrabill sicht, and haistie effray c1552 Lynd. Mon. 82.
Thoucht God with mony terrabyll effrayis Hes done this cuntrie scurge 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 551.
Quhen evir that ony effray of thevis or revaris happynnis … , we sall at the effray and forray … ryise [etc.]