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 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Witsonday, n. Also: wit-, wyt-, vit-, vyt-, wet-, weit-, wot-, vot-, whit-, whyte-, wheit-, whiet-, wys-, wos- and -sonday(e, -sonda(i, -sondy, -sonnday, -soneday, -sounday(e, -sounda(i, -sownday, -souneday, -sunday(e, -sundai, -sinday, -sanday, (witsomday), vitsonsdaye, uyssond day. [ME and e.m.E. wit-sunne-dei (c1175), wit suneday (c1275), wit-sonedai (c1290), witsonday (Trevisa), wissonday (c1400), wytsondaye (1451), whitson daye (c1557), whit sunday (1634), late OE (once) Hwíta Sunnandæᵹ, ON hvíta sunnudagr.]

1. a. Whitsunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter, the feast of Pentecost. Also the feist of Witsonday.b. In usages indicating merely the day or date on which the feast was celebrated or the period around that date. Also as adv. phr. with omission of prep. See also W abbrev. c. The actual occasion of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Jewish festival of weeks (see Nisbet Acts ii 1 marg. in a) commemorated in a.a., b. (1) a1400 Leg. S. vii 294.
Syne in a feste … That in oure led Witsonday hat c1420 Wynt. vi 1066.
That sequence, wyth othir ma Wersys, men oysis for to say Ilke yhere on Wytsonday Befor the Wangell … At the hey mes 1456 Hay II 41/21.
Or … in a grete feste, as Ȝule, Pasche, or Witsonday, or All Halowmesse 1469 Acts II 95/2.
For punding of malis & annualis incasting and owt casting of tennandis quhilkis … causis oft tymmes gret gaderingis and discordis vpone the solempnit days of Witsonday and Martymes … that the said pundin [etc.] … be deferrit to the thrid day eftir Witsunday or Martymes 1489 Treas. Acc. I 165.
Again Witsonda, for leuerais [etc.] 1496 Treas. Acc. I 275, etc.
The xxij day of Maii that was Witsonday giffin to the kingis offerand xviij s. c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. xvi 8.
I sal duelle at Ephesie till to Witsonnday [W., P. Witsuntide; L. Pentecosten] c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts ii 1 marg.
Quhan the dayis of Penthecost That is to say, quhen the ende of the fifty dayis that immediatlye followit Pasche day was cum thai war al to gyddir in ane place for than was the feast of owkis quhilk the law speikis of … Ande the samin now do we call Penthecost or Witsonday 1560 Rolland Seven S. 720.
The seuin greit maisteris … Suld bring his sone to him at Witsonday 1567 Acts III 32/2.
As the lordis of counsell and sessioun hes bene in vse … to haue vacance at Ȝule Fastingis euin Pasche & Witsonday … thay sall … sit daylie except on the Sonday without ony vacance at Witsonday 1570 Leslie 186.
The erle of Lenox [etc.] … about Witsounday shipped at Dumbartane 1588 Haddington Presb. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 253.
To abolische … the conuenementis of superstitious observation of festuall dais callit of Ȝule Pasche Witsonday and the pasche of Maj plaijs of Roben Hude [etc.] c1590 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis.
Vitsunday 1596 Dalr. II 282/25.
The Inglis hoste … persewit thame at the feist of Witsonday [L. ad festam Pentecostes diem] 1605 Crim. Trials II 478.
Quhilk … Jonet and the said Patrik, at Witsonday … convenit thame selffis vpone the cowmoun waist(b) 1496 Treas. Acc. I 269.
[For] makand the kingis clathis … agane Wetsunday(c) 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I 19.
For the iniuring of the said Florens calland hir preistis huyr befoir Vitsonsdaye last(d) 1632 Prognostication.
Whyte-Sunday(e) 1661 Rothesay Par. Rec. 51.
Promiseing to marie him … 8 days before Wheitsunday(2) 1502 Treas. Acc. II 79.
Item, Witsonday … to the Blak Freris … xiiij s. 1526 Treas. Acc. V 311.
To the v Italiane menstralis takand ȝeirlie ij leverayis, Ȝule and Witsondayc. a1400 Leg. S. i 40.
Petir broucht to Cristis fay Thre thowsand men on Witsonday a1400 Leg. S. v 27.
Quhen al the appostulys scalit var In syndry landis wyd-quhare Eftir the feste of Vitsonday c1420 Wynt. v 1937.
That spyryt brycht, … that on Wytsownday Illumynyd the appostillys 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 123.
That the Apostolis ressavit the gift of the Haly Gaist the fyftiday (callit in our language Wytsounday)

2. As one of the term-days or quarter days. For further examples see Martinmes n. 1.This was the normal term for changes in tenancy (see Flitting vbl. n. 4). By the Act of 1469 evictions and removals were deferred to the third day after Whit Sunday, the Wednesday of Whit week, cf. Vytson Veddyinsday (Witson attrib. c), the first day after the religious festival (see 1 above), but the legal term remained linked to the religious festival, and was therefore moveable, until in 1690 and 1693 it was fixed at 15th May (see Quhitsonday n. 2 (1)). See, further, Beltane n. 1 c.(1) 1389 Reg. Cambuskenneth 260.
The tane half as for the Martymes terme last bipast and the tothir half at Witsonday nixt for to cum 1400 Maxwell Mem. I 140.
The fader sal gyf herytabyl state and possessyoun of the fee, betvys this and Wytsunday, to … the sone 1409 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 74.
At twa vsuale termys … Witsonday & Martymes 1415 (a1443) Cop. St. A. 214.
He payand tyl vs yherely [at] … Martymes and Wytsonday for ilky aker xx^ti d. 1446 Reg. Cupar A. I 126.
The enteray of the said Johne to our forsaid landis [to be] at Wytsunday 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 7.
Vitsondai 1474 Acta Aud. 35/1.
Chargit & bad Schir William the Hay cum & ressaue the castel of Morham on Friday forou Witsonday 1475 Lennox Mun. 104.
Tua vsuell termes of the ȝer, Whitsunday and Martymes 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 120a.
Vytsondaye 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 126a.
Vytsonday 1540–1 Aberd. B. Rec. I 174.
Vitsounday 1542 Prestwick B. Rec. 58.
Roben Housoun to … mak gud seruice quhyl his terme ondir the payne of ylk dawork xij d. quhyl Wytsonday 1554 Grant Chart. 113.
The victual to be delyuerit to hir … betuixe Ȝwill and Vitsundaye, and the monye at Mertemes and Vitsundaye 1559 Inverness Rec. I 39.
Vytsunday 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 42.
Witsomday [sic in pr.] 1570 Leslie 253.
Witsoundaye 1598–9 Edinb. B. Rec. V 241.
Ane of the maisters of thair grammer schole in the place of Mr. Jhonn Balfour, [to have] ane assay to teache his clas quhill Witsonday nixtt 1624 Hist. Carnegies 90.
Witsondy 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 4.
Witsinday 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 304.
The said servant … to enter to me at Whitsanday … and become servant to me whyll Merteingmis nexttocome 1694 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 112.
The money to be payed at Whitsunday next, with annualrent frae Candlemas last, and the tounes entrie to be at Mertimes last(b) 1436 Ayr B. Ct. 26 Nov.
[The] alderman [etc.] … has set … the smale custumis … of Are for … fyff ȝerris … fra the Wyssunday next 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 15.
Uyssond day(c) 1682 Cullen Kirk S. 30 April.
[He] promised to pay his penalty betwixt this and Whietsunday nixt(2) 1438 Lennox Mun. 68.
Sall pay … at the fest of Wytsonday next 1462 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 371.
That … thai sall brouk the saidis landis … for tva ȝeris next eftyr the fest of Wytsonday followand 1482 Bamff Chart. 31.
The quhilk mariagh salbe completit … betuix the dait of this writ and the fest of Witsunday nexit eftir 1525 Reg. Soltre 91.
Witsouneday 1555 Acts II 494/1.
The warning of all tennentis … to flit … salbe … maid ony tyme within the ȝeir xl dayis befoir the feist of Witsonday 1562 Edinb. B. Deeds 25b.
Witsownday(b) 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 32.
That the said Scir Jamys sal deliuir his said castel … at this neist fest of Wossonday [v.r. Wossondai] for terme of five yheir neist eftir folwand(c) 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 27a.
All the dayes and termes of tuell ȝeris … folloand the fest of Wotsondaye nixt to cum(d) 1562 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 598.
Reseruing the tak and assedatioun … to the said William erll Marischeall quhais entrie thairto wes at the feist of Whitsounday c1575 Balfour Pract. 208.
Ane tenent being in possessioun … of ony landis, cloisit within termis, and not lauchfullie warnit befoir the feist of Whitsounday may not be removit fra his said mailling(3) 1400 Maxwell Mem. I 138.
At the nest vsuale terme of Martynmes or Wytsunday 1443 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 96.
Till the terme off Witsonday next to cum 1491 Acts II 225/1.
The tennentis [etc.] … sall remane vnput furth or removit quhill the nixt terme of Witsonday folowand 1493 Acta Aud. 170/1.
For the malez & annuale of the landis of Monycabo of the terme of Witsonday 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 318.
Witsoneday 1517 Treas. Acc. V 124.
For the vj Italianis abilȝementis of this last term of Vitsonday 1574 Exch. R. XX 375.
Fyve yeris … following the feist and terme of Witsounda 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 41.
The said persewar … fourtie dayis preceding the feast and terme of Witsonday last bypast cawsit laufullie wairne … the … tennent … to have flittit 1622 Misc. Bann. C. II 245.
For the maill of his foirbuith … restand of the termes of Witsonday and Mertimes 1634 Maxwell Mem. II 251.
That gif my wnkle Sir Thomas will gif good swrtie for twalve thowsand merks at the term of Wotsonday then I am content that yow gif him a frie discharge of all(4) 1429–30 Acts II 19/1.
Ande gif it be nere hande the Witsonday or Martynmes the seysing salbe gevin 1434–5 Reg. St. A. 424.
The said Walter entirand at the Witsonday next eftyr the makyng of this endenture 1443 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 96.
Till the terme off Witsonday next to cum and thre yheris thareftir next folowand quhilk sall be the Witsonday of the yher [1447] 1474 Bk. Carlaverock II 436.
The saide Robert enterande in the saide tak and malynge at the Witsonday next 1478 Peebles B. Rec. I 183.
He sall nocht ta … na fruttis belangand to the said alter qwhyll the Witsonday cwm a yeir efter 1498 Lennox Mun. 164.
Witsoundai 1513–14 Prestwick B. Rec. 45.
The said Mertyn Myllaris entrais to the duellyng … salbe at the Wytsonday next eftir the dayt of this present wyrt

b. transf.in pl.Agreements to become effective from Whitsunday. See 3 d below. 1450 Reg. Great S. 84/1.
Full powar … my malis … to raise and to ressave, my Witsondais to set and to halde

3. attrib. and possess.Chiefly in sense 2. a. With evyn(en, Monunday, etc., wolk.attrib. 1428 Liber Melros 520.
Quhill Wednysday into Witsonday woke 1503–4 Acts II 243/2.
That all Scotland mak ȝeirly ther wapinschawis apone Thurisday in Witsonday wolk 1517 Fife Sheriff Ct. 82.
Gife the said Alexander Myretoune was nocht enterit to the landis of Ballas quhil Vitsonday evyn last bypast that he mycht nocht lachfully warne the said Alexander Wemys to remoive tharfra 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 76.
The sowm of v s. … and viii d. for restmentis and payit one Wytsondaye Thursday 1536 Glasgow Prot. IV 90.
To rasaef hyr monye … apon Wytsunday en nixt to cumpossess. 1505 Treas. Acc. III 59.
The xij day of Maij, Witsondayis Monunday, to the kingis offerand, xiiij s. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II 141.
To compeir … Vitsondayis ewin last, … within the parroche kirk … to resaue … sax scoir pundis … for redemptioun of the saidis landis

b. Of rents, fees, etc.: Due at the Whitsun term-day.attrib. 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I 66.
Gevin to Stobo for his Witsonday fee last bipast 1506 Edinb. Hammermen MS 55a.
Ressauit of the land of the Castelhill of this Witsovnday annuell xv s. 1511 Wemyss Chart. 129.
To haif ressauit … the sowm of ten markis off my Witsonday mall 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 417.
To Lyon herald in … payment of his Witsounday pensioun 1519 Edinb. Hammermen MS 99b.
Gottin fra Thom Malisoun his Witsvnday annuell to cum becaus he wald gif na thing this Mertimes terme 1541 Reg. Privy S. II 609/2.
All and haile the Witsonday males and proffittis of all and haile the barony and landis of Slanis 1552 Treas. Acc. X 89.
Wytsounday 1555 Edinb. Old Acc. II 41.
To the doctor for his Wotsonday fie, x s. … to Thomas Home for his Wotsonday fie for keipping of the kirk, xx s. 1563 Edinb. Hammermen MS 218a.
Wotsondais 1606 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 2.
x lib. to James Gordoun for the Vitsounday maill(b) 1570 Boyd Fam. P. No. 58 (22 Feb.).
For the Weitsounday and Mertemais maillpossess. 1555 Edinb. Old Acc. II 44.
For his Witsondayis pentioun 1563 Edinb. Hammermen MS 218a.
Item resauit fra James … for his Votsondais maill 1584 Lochwinnoch Par. 144.
Quhilk Witsondayis maill the said lord … sall caus be deliuerit to the said Marie

c. The Witsonday term, the Whitsun term-day; the period from the previous term-day to the Whitsun term-day. (Term(e n. 1 and 2.) Cf. 2 (3) above. Also attrib. and possess.Also transf., the sum due on this day or for this period. Cf. b above. 1449 Charter (Reg. H.) 29 May.
The malis of Witsonday terme 1483–4 Acta Aud. 130*/2.
For the malis of ther landis in Athole of the Witsounda terme last bipast 1496 Treas. Acc. I 277.
Giffin to Schir Thomas Marschael in his fee of the Witsonday term lastbipast 1546–7 Treas. Acc. IX 50.
For ane half ȝeris maill, viz., for the Witsounday terme in anno xlvj^to 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II 285.
For the clerkkis buith maill of the Witsonday terme 1558 Treas. Acc. X 387.
To Johnne, Maister of Maxwell, wardane of the West Marchis … quhilk wes restand awin to him precedand the Witsounday terme in anno lviij 1584 Exch. R. XXI 600.
To mak payment … sa far as thay ar detbound of the said Witsounday terme 1593 St. A. Test. II 325.
For his fee and bountaz of the Witsounday term 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 216.
Addebted to … thair agent at court of the Mertinmes term last amd Witsondayes terme 1623 1636 Urie Baron Ct. 80.
The haill tennentis sick as are mailleris within the barrony … to content … the haill rest maillis, Witsounday and Mertimes termesattrib. 1496 Acta Conc. II 33.
The sade Patrik remanand with the Witsonday terme maile that last was takin up be himpossess. 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II 181.
The Witsounday termes maletransf. 1515 Treas. Acc. V 41.
Deliverit in complete paiment of his Witsounday terme in anno decimo quinto 1521–2 Dundee B. Ct. I 68b (13 Jan.).
Andro Barry to pay at Witsonday next to cum xj s. annuall of termys bygain awand to the said Andro togidder with that Witsonday terme 1597 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 96.
I payit the Witsonday terme preceiding to the gudman … in a v merk pece

d. Of business or agreements: Conducted or settled so as to be effective from the Whitsun term-day.Witsundais set (making), see Quhitsonday n. 3 for a further example.Witsondays bargaine.(1) 1456–7 Acts II 51/1.
That the king charge all his frehaldaris … that in the makyng of thair Witsundais set thaj statute [etc.] 1456–7 Acts II 52/2.
And alsua that all the actis and ordinancis abone writtyn the quhilkis ar necessary till his baronis and frehaldaris to be schawin at ther Witsundais making or in ther baronne courtis … be … schawin to his tenandis 1609–10 Ayr B. Acc. 242.
The … small custumes, according to the Witsounday sett(2) 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 2 May.
In respect of Witsonday adois he could do nothing till Witsonday war past(3) 1662 Lamont Diary 154.
Sir Alex. Durhame … bought the lands of Largo … it was a Witsondays bargaine and he medled with the [corne] of crope 1662 1666 Lamont Diary 189.
Itt was a Witsundays bargaine and he was to enter and to have crope 1666

e. Witsonday court. 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 2.
My lordis Vitsonday court