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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.

Laying, vbl. n.¹ Also: layin(e, -e(i)ng(e, layng, laing, leyin(g. [ME. laying (c 1330).]

1. In various senses of Lay v.¹ 3–29.(1) 1482–3 Acta Conc. II. cxiii.
For the spoliatioune of certane oxin and puttin furth of thair ene, and laying of thair plewis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 151.
Practizeing of thy wichecraft in laying of the wind 1661 Murray Witch-cult 114.
Ther wes a meiting of witches for laying of him [the Devil](2) 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 2.
For drawyn and layine of the stan vj d. 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 150.
Quhen he began the laying of the lair 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. fol. 26 b.
Quha hes na hors to … geiff thair paines for casting and laying of the fall [= fail, turf] 1529 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 4.
Wall stane schriffonis for the bakis of the chymnais layng 1529–30 Ib. 20.
Schwlis for service agane the masonis entres to the laying 1553 Treas. Acc. X. 207.
At the laying of the ground stane 1571–2 Haddington Acc. MS.
To the causay maker for layin of the causay 1611 Macgibbon & Ross V. 5.
Sua that the said William … may enter to the laying the said first day of Apryle 1657 Dunferm. Kirk S. 49.
To agrie with the wry[ch]te for hinging the bells and laying the loft 1684 Fawside Coal Compt 127.
The expenses at the timber layeing [6 s.](3) 1674 Cunningham Diary 44.
For laying marches to the ash midding(4) a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 367.
This warld … hes bene occupied … in laying of plattis(5) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 306.
Pynouris feis for laying of the cordage 1541–2 Ib. VIII. 123.
Lossing, laing une schore, and monting of the samin [canon] 1586 St. A. Test. II. 63.
To madyn Gray … for … laying and turning of the ledder xij s. 1610 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 324.
Laying the gones in the eird 1630 Justiciary Cases I. 145.
Be hir laying of ane inchantit threid befoir his dur a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 29.
The act annent layeing of lint in lochs 1632 Cullen B. Ct. MS. 27 July.
Casting of peittis … and laying of the same in the hie get(6) 1525 Acts II. 298/1.
Setting the gait, laying wachis for men to do thaim scaith 1550 Crim. Trials I. 357.
For … laying of ane grete buschement of futemen … vpoun the said Alexander(7) 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 79.
To [the] payntouris for the laying with gold in paynting 1532 Ib. 86.
For the complete paynting and laying … of all the … irne werk with reid leid [etc.] 1535 Ib. 191.
For the haill irne wyndois cullering and laying 1624–5 Misc. Spald. C. V. 100.
For reid lead, oyle, and laying the windowis(8) 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 2.
Spanȝe irne … ; for werking of the samyn in … the eiking and layng of ii quarell mellis Ib. 24.
For steill and laying of the forsaid cawel togidder witht the laying and stelyng of the ould cawel 1531–2 Ib. 59.
Ane new mattok vi new vagis … for stele and laying of the samin at baith the endis 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 292.
To the myllars for … laying of the schole 1598 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. (Reg. H.) 178 b.
The smyth persewis the … millar … for leying of the mill irnis for j firlot meill ilk ȝeir 1678 Fawside Coal Compt 34.
The sy[n]kmen for the mell laying [13s. 4d.] 1679 Ib. 50, etc.
For picks & wadges roweing & layeing 1694 Foulis Acc. Bk. 172.
For laying the axe and mending the hoose of it furnishing steill [6s.](9) 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1822) 35.
I know your counts are many, and will take telling and laying and reckoning betwixt you and your Lord 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 154.
Ane schooll maister … able to educat young children in reading, wreiting, and laying of comptis

b. Cf. Lay v.¹ 28 b. Laying time, ? the time of ‘laying’ or smearing sheep. 1695 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 745 (22 Nov.).
[To do the usual services in peat, hay, harvest, clipping and laying times]

2. With adverbs: cf. Lay v.¹ 33–45.Cf. also By-, Doun-, Furthlaying, etc.(1) 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 303.
Putting of all the altalȝerie in the inner volt, and laying of the greit asyde(2) 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 356.
viij dozoun daill, … for laying of thame by of the haip 1614 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 346.
For laying by and wailling the tymmer to the horse men1615 Ib. 364.(3) 1570 Rep. Earl Southesk MSS. 12.
Ane surceans … to be takyn, uith layenge doun armes on all sides(4) 1546 Treas. Acc. VIII. 469.
Convocatioun of … liegis to the laying furth of Maister George Blair(5) 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 292.
For laying in of the dam of the foirscheit, and bering of the faill to it 1611 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 562.
To fulfill … the said decreit … in laying in and vphalding of the dame of the mylne of Partik 1632–3 Peebles Gleanings 137. 1656 Peebles B. Rec. II. 37.
The haill inhabitantes … that hes hors to tak ane hors and slaide for laying in Menner Water caul 1669 Ib. 78.
Appoyntes Fryday come eight dayes for laying in the caule syde upon Tuedsyde, and the haill horssis to be wairned(6) 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 373.
At the laying on of the last lintellis that is to be layit on this yeir 1629 Elgin Rec. II. 211.
[Censured] for laying on laids upon Sonday last 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 4 b.
To horsmen for leyin one good leids 5 li. 17 s. — 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 139.
The shyre and toune have the layeing on of ther owne excyse 1675 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 198.
Laying on ane locallitie wpon theis … on quhom their is no shouldiers quartered 1680 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. (17 Jan.).
Ane fyne … for his laying on of ane ces wrongouselie vpon the said burgh 1697 Glasgow Stent Bk. Pref.
The stent masters [were] appointed for laying on the said stent 1701 Ch. in Orkney 62.
Laying one ane cast of money on the parochiners for … seats in the kirk — 1605 Crim. Trials II. 478.
Dilaittit … for laying on of sorcerie and inchantment … vpone Jonet Lowrie(7) 1671 Cullen Kirk S. 18 June.
Delat of breach of Sabboth by laying out linen cloath 1697 Cramond Kirk S. IV. 12 Sept.
Isobell Broun ... being delated for laying out a webb on the Lord's day(8) 1498 Edinb. Hammermen 24 b.
For layin our of iiij tortas with ȝallow cullour 1548 Treas. Acc. IX. 197.
For laying oure of tua last salmound and gyrthing of thame 1617 M. Works Acc. XV. 49 b.
For laying over the catchball of Falkland with a blak cullour — 1635 Dickson Wr. 54.
Ease thy restless mind by laying it over upon God(9) a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 178.
Liberal laying up, and giving for the relief of the poor c1670 Gordon's Aberd. 18.
Corfe houses … for laying up ther salmond