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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
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Viage, V(a)yage, Ve(y)age, Vo(y)age, Vaage, n. Also: wiage, wyage, wiyage, vioage, vayag, -adge, -eg(e, vayehage, waya(i)ge, -ag, vaiage, waiage, -ege, waiaigh, vaigage, vaig-, wa(i)ge, waa(i)ge, waag(h, weyage, -aig(e, veyadge, veiage, veag, veadge, weag(e, (veyagilie), veoyage, veotshe, wewage, weavage, voyag, -aig(e, -eage, woyag(e, -aige, vo(y)adge, woyadg(e, voiage, voidge, wovage, vuage. [ME and e.m.E. veage (1297), viage, vyage (both Manning), veyage (c1310), vaiage (c1325), vayage (c1400), voiage (1485), vage (1491-2), voyage (1527), OF ve(i)age, vayage, vo(i)age.]

1. a. A journey, an act, episode or period of travel. b. A commercial voyage or trip by sea, by implication, to a foreign port and back. Also attrib. Also pl. Cf. 3 a below. Also const. at, in, on a voyage, and with omission of the preposition. c. In pl. form with sing. sense.a., b. (1) 1456 Hay II 159/12.
His mule and all his provisioun that to him was nedefull for his viage 1456 Hay II 159/16.
Voyage 1513 Doug. i Prol. 436.
Thus mycht scho not pretend na iust caus quhy Thocht Troianys eftir departis of Cartage, Sen thai befor declaryt hir thar vayage 1513 Doug. iii vi 40.
Throu deip seys thi wayage is addrest 1526 Dumfries B. Ct. 94a.
& eftir the said wyn be carieit for the first xv days wayage 1533 Bell. Livy I 244/27.
Returnyng hame, ladin with sa infinite pray … that the samyn made na litill impediment to thare viage 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 410.
[The ship] … with the proffites of hir viage 1555 Acts II 495/1.
That nane … cary ony victuallis … furth of this realme … except samekill at salbe thair necessare victualling for thair veyage 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3030.
Thocht ȝe be cum, ȝour veyage is in vaine 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 278.
Voyaig 1570 Leslie 153.
Sayled with pleasand windis and prosperous vayage 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI 657.
Althocht it be ane winter vayeg ye neid nocht gretumlie to feir the stormis, for we have skilfull marinellis anew a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 109.
As thay war bringing hayme sum oxin, … the soldiors … interceptit thair vayage 1610 Southesk MSS 14.
Voiage 1618 Crim. Trials III 466.
Except he be resident within the cuntrie for the tyme, nocht vpone the poynt of his voyadge 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 253.
To David Maistertoun glaissinwrycht for his weyage fra Sanct Androis to viseit the … windois at the castell of Stirling 1654–5 Dumbarton Common Gd. Acc. 203.
Vayadge(b) 1590 Misc. Spald. C. II 114.
Vuage(c) 1640 Acts V 619/1.
Petitioun of James Arnott merchant … The … losses susteaned be me … by detayneing of the said schip … from her veoyage … which is lyke to turne to my vtter rwine(d) a1578 Pitsc. I 43/15 (A).
Weavage(e) 1616 Reg. Great S. 516/2.
Rex … concessit … 12 denarios levandos viatim de naulo uniuscujusque tunne seu dolii lie veyagilie of everie tunis frauchtattrib. 1508–9 Reg. Privy S. I 278/2.
Respitt … unto the day of the said Patrikis viage taking, and ay and quhill he returnpl. 1566 Inverness Rec. I 144.
That … schip or boit pas nocht emptie thair wyagis 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 517.
The haill cocquettis of thre viages(2) c1400 Troy-bk. i 425.
Quhen scho mytht witt that thai wald be In thar wayage and in thar fare, Scho wald rase wedderis c1475 Wall. vii 74.
Ane agit man fast towart him couth draw … 'I am,' he said, ‘in wiage chargit with thé' 1513 Doug. v xiii 16.
Now wald thai wend … Reddy to thoill al travale in vayage 1521 Stirling B. Rec. I 9.
The saidis James fraichit the said boit to the said havin siclik as Duncan Patonsoune … did of befoir now at hus last waagh 1526 Stirling B. Rec. I 27.
Quheit … samekle as the bakstaris … couft in Leicht at this last waiaigh 1531 Bell. Boece II 315.
Vayage 1533 Boece 20a².
Vaage 1540–1 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 102.
Pittye customes of all guddis … passing out of thair havin … to Jhonne Sandis schip at this vayege 1559–60 Ayr B. Acc. 34.
Adam Wallace … wes one his vayage quhairthrouch his compt culd not be had 1568 Cal. Sc. P. II 498.
I feir … my servand salbe in his viage returnyng befoir [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 258/10.
Woage 1582–3 Perth B. Ct. 5 Feb.
Merchandice … bocht be him at the said wiage 1592 Prot. Bk. J. Young 286.
Gif I deces at this present viage or I cum hayme agane in Scotland 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 96.
Becaus the said Thomas is ane strainger and upon his veyage 1624 Crim. Trials III 572.
Veadge 1622-6 Bisset II 223/8.
Gif faultis beis committed in the weyaige to wit sinking of schipis [etc.] 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 10b.
Weag 1650 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 110.
Woyadge(3) 1559 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 135.
His merchandice … ressavit … in schipburde the viage libellat 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 373.
Seing he mycht nocht gudlie saill him self in the said schip the viage foirsaid 1593–4 Ayr Common Good Acc.
For payment his hors hyris baith the weyages 1596 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 46.
Niniane Copen … to pay me ilk voage he makis a knag of vinacre 1596 Dalr. I 99/22.
A verie abiecte man thay halde him that gangis vpon his fute, ony voyage 1604 Dundee Shipping P. 80.
I sall com heme … with dellegenss, this woyag performitc. c1475 Wall. v 244.
Quhat art thow walkis that gait? A trew man, schyr, thocht my wiagis [1570 vayage] be layt; Erandis I pas fra Doun to my lord, Schir John Stwart

2. To tak (do, mak, pas, etc.) (one's, the, etc.) vayage, once, to perfornys of one's wage, to complete one's voyage, to set out on, more rarely, accomplish, a journey. (Quot. Ship Laws c. 11 (B) has been misinterpreted s.v. Perfurnis v. 1 b.) Also pl. b. Const. in a purpose. ?14.. Ship Laws c. 22 (B).
Gyf he [sc. the master] may nocht mende the schyp he may hyre ane vthyr to do the vayage [Bisset II 242/14, to furneis his wayaige] ?14.. Ship Laws c. 11 (B).
The schipmen wald hafe thair hyrys and gyf thar be ony that has na bed na kyst in the schyp the maystyr may halde of his hyre for gyf he yhede away the maystyr had nocht to perfornys of his wage [H. waige, A. wiagis] c1500 Harl. MS 4700 150.
A schip … makis hir redy to tak hir vyage 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV 97.
To Johne Bertoun that restit awand to him of the viage that he passit with the archbeschop of Sanctandrois 1560 Rolland Seven S. 882.
Or we our veyage tuke Or ȝit jornay outher be sey or land 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3707.
Anone thay tuik veyage 1562–3 Reg. Privy C. I 230.
The samin schip … and merchandice … than being in thair possessioun upoun the seyis, makand saill and viage fordwart furth of the port … of Nantis a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 61/15.
Men sould tak vayage at the larkis sang 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 36.
Thej tuke vioage … and past to Coldinghame a1578 Pitsc. I 297/7.
Wewage 1594 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 45.
That na person … saill or take voadge vpon the Sabbath day 1622-6 Bisset II 250/25.
Ilk ane of theme … ar haldin to mak furth the said weyaige 1629 Justiciary Cases I 110.
Being thaireftir advyset … that thai neidit nocht tak in hand sic ane veyadge c1678 Reg. Panmure I lxv.
Which woyadg he intended to begin on Moondaypl. ?14.. Ship Laws c. 19 (A).
Gif thar be ony that nouther has bede na kyst in the schip the master may halde of his hir for & he ȝede a way that maister had nocht to hald of his for to perfurnis his wiagis with all [B. to perfornys of his wage; H. waige; Bisset II 256/19, weyaig] 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 172.
The hyrers horses … did hyre ther horses, and mack woyadges … not acquanting the postmasterb. c1420 Wynt. ii 607 (C).
To tak woyage [R. to wyage] In marchandisse or pilgrimage

3. With specification of a location, esp. a destination. a. (The traversing of) a particular route or journey; also, a journey to and from a specified place. Const. the veage of (a place) and with the place in attrib. position, also, af of, at, in or to a place, etc. Also in const. where the location is indicated in the wider context.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 5308.
Alexander … That … the great riuage Passis of Pharon the veage [F. Alixandre … Qui … veut passer du Faron le mal pas] 1492–3 Acta Conc. I 275/1.
Half a Danskin viage 1586–7 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 183 (1 March).
My northland weyage 1653 Edinb. Surgeons 249.
Item for our Dalkeath woyage for 7 horse 1654 Elgin Rec. II 285.
Being com home from ane London voage(2) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 263.
Thair veyage lyis throw out this wildernes, to the Palice of Honour all thay go 1559 Corr. M. Lorraine 426.
My lord of Arran vayag in Fyff … is to seik men 1593 Stirling Merch. Guild 4.
Duncane Patersone … is to depart … to his veage to the parts of Flanderis 1622 Sc. N. & Q. I 103.
Thrie voadges outvart and hamvart extending to 30 lbs. 1633 Haddo P. (Tullielt.).
To … furneis the said William Gordoun to his veotshe af of Scotland 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 26.
The same prisint veag at Bordex 1662 Crim. Trials III 609.
The first woyag that ewer I went with the rest of owr covens wes [to] Plewghlandis 1697 Argyll Justic. Rec. 159.
During that voyadge in Mull(3) c1500 Justiciary Rec. I 156.
Thaireftir thay come to Edin[gap] sum men jugeit na gud to cum of this weyage 1513 Doug. iii ii 95.
It is not thens lang cowrs nor vyage far; Our navy sall, … The thrid morow be at the cost of Crete 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 167.
The marinaris … pullit vp salis and brocht the Roman navy aboute the oute boundis of Albioun be quhilk waaige [1821 viage] thai saw all the ilis of the samyn 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 178.
The Romanis … fled in Brigance. Galdus, knawing all thair waage [etc.] 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III 27.
[The same must … pass … by Pentland Firth and the north isles] quhilk viage wilbe lang and perilous 1655 Rec. Old Aberd. I 91.
That whair ther wes ane conventione of the haill cittie … for goeing to the shor … for helping of publict work ther the said George Gibsone compeirit and declairit the devill brak his neck that went that woyadge 1672 Dunkeld Presb. II 135.
Being upon her first voyeage bounding towards Cadiz in Spaine

b. Const. (ap)on, at, in (one's, this) vayage, also with omission of the preposition. Also const. in a purpose.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. i 109.
One our wayage furth to pas … In othyr landis c1475 Wall. ii 386.
In thair wiage at Glaskow c1475 Wall. viii 62.
Atour Forth south thai past On this wyage thai haistit wondyr fast 1518 Edinb. B. Rec. I 176.
Apon his viage to pas beyond sey 1540 Mar & Kellie MSS 15.
We, James … King of Scottis, now being on our vyage to our ilis be sea 1547 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. i (Hope v. Tod & Robertson).
Ane schip … quhilk wes on hir waiege cumand … to this realm 1557 Edinb. B. Rec. III 7.
Ane greit man of Moscovia, quha wes schip brokin … in his vayege towert Ingland 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 22.
In thair vaigage from Flandaris 1580 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 133.
Returning out of France quhair he is at his vayage 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS 4 Sept.
In thair last wiyage towardis Flanderis they being in great danger [etc.] 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 438.
Archibald Thomsons great boat went on voidge to the rod of Leith and back againe(2) 1506 Treas. Acc. III 206.
To Thomas Hathowy to furnis the kingis schip in the Northland the secund viage, for tymir … xxx li. 1506 Treas. Acc. III 349.
To Thomas Peyrson … to pas in the [Le]wis, and for it he wantit the last viage he wes thare 1514 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 146.
Till tak … of everye sek of guidis reparand this nixt wayage within the Dukis landis xviij gs. 1551–2 Perth Guildry 282 (29 Jan.).
Alexr Ros … deponit that he had to Flandris this last viage vj mertrik skynnis 1587–8 Burntisland B. Ct. 1 March.
At homcuminge frome the saidis illis the last wayage(3) 1587 Waus Corr. 396.
In oure voyage in ambassadie to Denmark

c. Const. to tak (mak, persw) (one's, etc.) vayage. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1327.
Sanct Colme … His wayag hamewart tuk 1456 Hay I 143/27.
The chyftane takis his voyage out of Almayne and cummys resonable grete journeis towarde Britayne 1531 Bell. Boece II 463.
He tuke his viage to returne in Scotland c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 386.
His veyage tuik quhair he na gait did knaw 1562 Dundas Fam. P. ix.
We wer abill to mak ane viage in Ingland this yeir 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 64.
James pryour of Sanctandrois [etc.] tuke thair vioage to … France throw Ingland 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 120.
He … perswd his voage to France a1578 Pitsc. I 80/11.
Weage 1596–1600 Warrender P. (SHS) II 429.
The said James maid an expres vayage in Scotland … to complayne 1622-6 Bisset II 423/25.
Woyaige 1660 Rothesay B. Rec. 56.
Fra the day they tak voyadge to the said conventioun … till thair returne

4. A journey for the purpose of warfare, a military expedition against an enemy. Const. in, on, etc. and to tak, etc. as in 1-3 above. Also transf.(a) 1375 Barb. iv 646.
Ȝe pas now furth on ȝour wiage [C. wagis] To wenge the harme … That Inglismen has to ȝow done 1375 Barb. v 207 (C).
Viage 1375 Barb. xiv 117.
Thai … Withset a pase in-till his way … With twa thowsand off men … Bot he his wiage sone has tane And straucht towart the pas is gane. The erle off Murreff … That put him fyrst ay till assayis … the pase tuk he c1475 Wall. iii 118.
Fenweik … had on Scottis maid mony schrewide wiage 1513 Lett. James IV 311.
Abill men for the said viage 1531 Bell. Boece I 81.
Otheris sayis, he usit this hous as his tent in al his viage, and had it ay tursit with him 1533 Boece 11a.
How the king of Pichtis in his viage contrar Romanis was slane 1533 Boece 518a.
King Alexander … assembling ane army maid his viage 1546 Treas. Acc. VIII 486.
William Forster, capitane of the said schip … quhilk he debursit in outredding of hir in hir first viage in weirfair 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 337.
Ane proclamation … chargeing … the inhabitaris … to meit my lord regent … to pas on the thevis … wpoun the xxiiij day … my lord regent depairtit … in viage of the raid foirsaid(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 320.
Cassamus … And all the douzepeirs … Ordaned all … For the passage of Pharone And the vayage of Effezone c1420 Wynt. viii 4276.
He tuk hys wayage for to fare Owre the Mownth and all the land … He sesyd c1450-2 Howlat 349 (A).
As feris for a pursewant That will wayage awant Armes to weire 1531 Bell. Boece I 191.
Severus … glaid to have occasioun of battall … tuke his wayage on ane hors litter 1537 Mar & Kellie MSS 14.
We … wes glaid of your haiste wayage, and als of the recept of our Castel of Dunbare(c) ?1438 Alex. ii 5570.
‘I sall me arme … And … Ryde to Clarus pauillioun And of his eldest sone ask iustyne!' … Quod Cassamus … 'I hope this gate wald nocht be gane, Na ȝit this veage vndertane!' 1460 Hay Alex. 2328.
Armenee … rissin was … king Philip … thocht to pas him-self in that regioun Than Alexander him consalit to do nocht sua And for his saik he sulde the veyage ta 1585 Reg. Morton I 145.
We greit ȝow weill, having … ado with palȝionis to oure … vse at oure oist … schortelie to pas … to the west marche … for repressing of … rebellioun … that we may haue the vse of ȝouris during this veiage(d) 1456 Hay I 65/29.
In the quhilk voyage he had mony bataillis 1531 Bell. Boece I 158.
In this voyage, Galdus left the seging of the castellis … and [etc.] 1549 Compl. 4/9.
Quha vald considir the longinquite of his martial voyaige 1667 Highland P. II 42.
M^cKenzie marched … and … wasted all Morar … . Before this woyage to Morar [etc.](e) 1375 Barb. iv 646 (C) (see (a) above).
Wagis 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 254.
Wallace … come with his army to Abirdene … and in his waag tuke Dunnottirtransf. 1494 Deidis of Armorie 36.
The paon … his v[oy]ag[is] var wilfully in thift

5. A pilgrimage. b. A visit to church. 1375 Barb. xx 353.
He tuk that waiage To pas in-till pilgramage c1420 Wynt. vi 450.
As in gud haly pylgrynage Till Rome takand hys wayage 1456 Hay I 238/23.
Kirk men that makis vowis of vaigis for the lufe of God 1456 Hay I 239/5.
To Sanct Antone, Sanct Denys, or till othir viage c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2655.
This wes the prettike of sum pylgramage … than tuke thay thare vayage … tyll the feild chapell of Dron 1601 Elgin Rec. II 93.
Sic persones as compeirit for going to the idolatrous chappell in pilgrimage … The … persones quho wer chalengit for thair idolatrous voyage to the chappellb. 1656 Moray Synod 121.
That presbyteries be cairfull to remove superstitione and profannes in kirking of women after child-birth and admonish them that … their first voyage is to give thanks to God for their deliverie

6. a. fig. The course of human life; the journey through life or to faith. b. transf. An expedition or enterprise.a. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 15.
As the schip that sailith stereles … So standis thou here in this warldis rage And wantis that suld gyde all thy viage 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 447.
No man getteth Christ with ill will; no man cometh and is not welcome. No man cometh and rueth his voyage 1660–90 J. Walwood in P. Gillespie Rulers Sins (1718) 15.
Ye will get a sea voyage before ye step within the gate of heavenb. 1567 Sat. P. iv 59.
Sum vncouth vaiage I purpoisit prepare, Bot not sa vncouth as was preparit for me a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 625 (L).
Fra we determenit [to] … clyme the chyrrie trie [etc.] … Bot fra we gett our wayage win [etc.] a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 682 (L).
Thay say that wayage neuir luckis Quhair ilk ane hes ane woit

7. ? A route. 1536 Dumfries B. Ct. 183b.
Thai ordane thame to oppin the cart gait throw the crosch of the chapelland to be the vayehage to the geris of Castelldikis & Kingholme