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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.

Graif, Graiff(e, n. Also: grayf; grafe; greaf. [Northern ME. grafe (15th c.); var. of Grave n., with normal Sc. f for v; cf. Graf n.]

1. A grave. Freq. in phrases as lay or put in graif, gang or go to (one's) graif.(a) 1495 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 316.
Eftir the lady mess daily to pass in the albys to the grayf c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 45.
I see that makaris amang the laif Playis heir ther pageant, syne gois to graif 1531 Bell. Boece I. 241.
To pray for thair husbandis, and finaly be buryit with thaim in graif 1535 Stewart 16499.
With all honour syne grauit wes in his graif Ib. 36125.
Ane graif that wes bayth deip and lang 1533 Boece iii. viii. 102 b.
In his life he had sene thame laid in graif 1537 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 414.
Tway schillingis to the sacristene for the settyng of the stwyll at his graif a1568 Flemyng Bann. MS. 160 b/47.
Cukkaldis all togiddir May wis thair wyfis in graif a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 896.
Na, rather my father Sall quick gang to his graif 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone 46 b.
The lair stane that lyis vpone the said vmquhill … Dame Christane graif 1618 Edinb. Test. L. 115.
I commend … my bodie to the graiffig. a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 20.
The turtill trew … ay faythfull to the graif 1581 Cath. Tr. 161/18.
Auld men quha … had almaist the ane fut in the graifcomb. 1614 Rec. Earld. Orkney 382.
To the belman for … graif making(b) c1475 Wall. vi. 624.
With dede corssys that lay wnputt in graiff Ib. x. 316.
Of Inglismen … Thre hundreth thar was graithit to thair graiff 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 306.
The graiff quharin the bairn was bureid 1590 Digest Justiciary Proc. M. 30.
[They] tuik with thame spedis … and mead ane graiff 1603 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 324.
That na staynes aucht to be infixet or sett at ony graiffes in the buriall yaird(c) 1513 Doug. iii. v. 80.
Thou … Apon thine ennemeis grafe was maid to de 1596 Dalr. II. 244/2.
The grafe in the Chartusianis of S. Johnes toune 1620 Edinb. Test. LI. 4 b.
That the same bodie laid in grafe sall ryse againe(d) 1573 Cath. Tr. 8/9.
Martin Luther, quha, afoir his death, desyred this verse to be put on his greaf

2. The haly graif, the sepulchre of Christ. c1450-2 Howlat 444.
The roye Robert the Brus the rayke he awowit … to the haily graif [: laif] 1570 Leslie 96.
The Kinge … past … to Ierusalem and the hally graif