Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

O, Oo, n.² Also: oe, oy. Plur. oyes, oys(e. [e.m.E. (Shakesp.).]

1. The shape of the letter O, regarded as a circle. 1543 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXIII. 94.
[He was ordered to close the three] roundis maid in manner of o 1554 Ib.
[Decerned … to alter the little square window in his land into an] o [and to bar and glaze it]

b. Oe end, o-shaped end, round or circular end. 1570–1 Elgin Rec. I. 124.
That the penny candill be of xi ensche by the oe end

2. A circular window. Also round oo.(1) 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 51.
Till mak ane squair wyndo … quhare the round oo is now 1654 Lanark B. Rec. 153.
To pit up in his back wall ane round oe(2) 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II. 89 b.
The said o till be takin dovne & the wall to be closit wp 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 365.
The o in the heid of the said windo 1562 Dundee B. Laws 29.
That the saids oyse be only but in breid and lenth ane foot of measure and … stainshont with iron and glassit 1586 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 254.
To Dauid Kaldwell quarieur … to brek the wall of the stepill at the o 1597 Elgin Rec. II. 56.
Oo 1625 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 347.
Oyes 1637–8 Ib. 483.
To help to cut ane oy of his in the stone