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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Haly day, n. Also: hali(e, hally, helye, hellye. [Northern ME. haly day (14th c.), OE. háliᵹ dæᵹ. Cf. Haliday.]

1. A consecrated or holy day; hence also, a holiday. 1424 Acts II. 6/1.
That … thar be maid bowmerkis and specialy nere paroche kirkis quhare vpone haly dais men may cum and … schute 1456 Hay I. 165/35.
I se nocht that men of were settis thame to kepe the haly day 1469 Acts II. 97/1.
For samekle as the Setterday and vthir vigillis ar nocht of law biddin haly day bot fra evin sang to evin sang 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. 30.
He makand gud and suficiand seruice … in the quer opone the hali day 1537 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 413.
In kess the said bernis … be absent fra the said Aue gloriosa … halie day or wark day 1578 Edinb. Test. VI. 79 b.
With ane paitlat of blak for the haly day 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 17 b.
To worke ii helye dayes 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 65.
Arbiters … may not decreit vpon ane halie day

2. attrib. a. Haly dayis (also day) claithis, Sunday, or best, clothes. a1500 Henr. Fab. 505.
I will put on my haly dais [B. hellye dayis] claithis 1595 Edinb. Test. XXVIII. 236.
He leuis … to … his secund sone … his halie day claythis 1606 Ib. XLII. 14 b.
I leiff to … my sone my haill claythis, baith haly dayis claithis and wark dayis claythis

b. Haly dayis fischis, a duty paid by the tenants of certain Aberdeen fishings for support of the church-services. 1575 (1585) Reg. Great S. 261/1.
The salmond and uther fischis callit the haly-dayis fischis of the said watter of Cruwis, and als the halydayis salmond fischis of the tua Kavillis 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 122.
The councell assignis to the said Thomas the deutie of the haliedayes fische