Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Hay, int. Also: haye. [ME. hay, hey, hei (a 1225). Cf. Hey.] A call to attract attention. Also used as an exclamation. a1500 Henr. Fab. 478.
The wedow … gaif ane schout, ‘How, murther, hay’ a1500 Peblis to Play 43.
With hay and how rolumbelow The ȝoung folcis wer fuil bald 1513 Doug. vi. iv. 48.
Owtwith al the sauctuar hy ȝow, hay Ib. ix. ii. 12.
Our enuemys cummys at hand … Hay, hay, go to 1540 Lynd. Sat. 451.
Now hay, for ioy and mirth I dance 1567 G. Ball. 69.
Hay Ȝule, now sing and mak myrth a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xli. 1.
Hay, now the day dawis 1651 Dundee Court Martial 15.
One [of the two troopers] … said, ‘haye, give mee your siller’