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

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

Wyd(e, Wid, adj. Also: vyd(e, wyid, vide, void. Compar. also woidar, waider. [ME and e.m.E. wide (Orm), wid (c1250), wyd (Manning), wyde (Rolle), OE wíd.]

1. Of great extent, vast, extensive in area, spacious in all directions. Also in fig. context. b. Of clothes, etc.: Capacious, generously cut. c. Of a fire arm: Large in bore. d. transf. or fig. Capable of enormous invective. e. fig. Extensive, overwhelming, large in quantity.Some examples may belong in 2 below. 1375 Barb. vii 47 (C).
The wode is bath braid and vyde a1400 Leg. S. xliii 496.
I … giffis bot a lytil wra, A vyd merkat thare-for I ta [L. dare brevem angulum et accipere forum pellucidum] c1400 Troy-bk. i 26.
Troye was notht … Be ferre sa mekile ne sa wyd As eftre the fyrst distructioune, Quhen Pryame biggyt agane the toune ?1438 Alex. i 382.
I wate that in this warld sa wyde Is [na] hors that may him ouer-tak c1420 Wynt. viii 4005.
Throwch all Scotland brade and wyde All worthyd Inglis men c1450-2 Howlat 748 (A).
For ws, wappit in wo in this warld wyde c1475 Wall. xi 46.
Ȝe may off pes plenys thir landis wid c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 76.
Our all the wyd realme c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 209/56.
Sum givis parrochynnis full wyd … to rewill 1513 Doug. xi xiii 100.
In circulis wyde scho drave hym 1513 Doug. xii viii 74.
Thir heich hallys bene full large and wyde 15.. Clar. iii 1344.
The floodis that ar baith roume and wyd 1596 Dalr. I 29/5.
That wyde and ample forrest, called the Tor Wod 1596 Dalr. I 36/17.
How hes sa gret and wyde wodes evir thair growin, quhair now … will nocht sa mekle as ane small wande grow 1632 Cullen B. Ct. MS 6 July.
Item ane vyd croft in Langrudis occupeit be Johne Hay 1703 Inverness Kirk S. 24.
A spacious vide parish, which he judged … to be a burden which he was … [not] able … to take on himb. c1420 Ratis R. 1666.
This eild … lwis furryt claithis wyde c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 437.
I haif a wattir spunge … within my wyde clokis 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 197.
To be the king ane wyd doublete ?1555 Reg. Acts & Decr. in Lynd. (STS) IV 276.
Ane wyde seif, ane small seif 1596 Dalr. I 93/10.
Thir mantilis war baith wyd and lang 1596 Dalr. I 93/25 (see Bosum n. 4).c. 1643 Strathbogie Presb. xxiii (see Musketon n.).d. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 335.
Hatrent I hid … Bot quhilis it hepit so huge quhill it behud out. Ȝit tuk I nevir the wosp clene out of my wyde throte Quhill I oucht wantite. a1568 Scott xxx 17.
This wid fantastyk lust but lufe Dois so ȝung men to madnes mvfe, That [etc.] a1568 Scott xxxvi 62.
Lowse thow my lippis, that … I may gif to Thé lovingis wyd

2. a. Of great extent from side to side, not narrow. Also compar. Also in fig. context. b. With reference to a particular width. Also compar. c. Of wounds, esp. of Christ's wounds. d. comb.a. 1375 Barb. xvi 384.
The entre wes weill large and wid And as a scheild it narowit ay a1400 Leg. S. iv 302.
On a bryge, as thai can ryd … a wattyr, depe and wyd a1400 Leg. S. xiii 124.
A kyrke lang & vyd c1400 Troy-bk. ii 662.
The port … Was nought of so gret quantyte The hors myght entre gaynandly One ned they huffyt it … To brek the wall … And the port als to mak it wyd 1460 Hay Alex. 515.
His [sc. Bucephalus'] hed was … Bred of the cheik … Hie browit and rycht wyde vnder the choke c1500 Crying of Play 74.
The hyngand brayis on athir syde Scho poltit [Interl. Droich powtterit] with hir lymmis wyde a1568 Bann. MS 261b/15.
At hame remanis the silly lairdis And sendis thair wyvis … To forder thair eirandis … Thay [sc. the wives] gif no buddis Bot … get grit skuddis In nakit bed Bot neuirtheles the laird mon fyne For all hir menis ane tun of wyne His wyfe cumis hame baith wyd & vsit [etc.] ?a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlviii 67 (see Byess n.). a1578 Pitsc. I 251/9.
This scheip [sc. the Great Michael] was so strang and wyde of length and breid that [etc.]compar. 1596 Dalr. I 12/15.
This cuntrey at the bordour is narow, bot in the midcuntrey it is sumthing baith braider and wyderb. 1375 Barb. viii 170.
Wes a gret mos … That fra the way wes quhar men raid A bow-draucht weile on ather sid And that place thocht him all to wyd Till abyd men that horsyt war. Tharfor [thre] dykys our-thuort he schar c1500 Crying of Play 43.
Ellevyne ell wyde met was his mouth 1599 Reg. Great S. 285/1.
Ac to cast dictos aqueductus als deip and wyde quantum satis esset ad optimum conductum aque(b) 1687 Inverness Rec. II 347.
To cause cast downe the porch … and so much of the wall about it in hight & voidness as shall be convenient for a larger new porch … to contrive … the same in a more handsome … frame then before and to make it so void & high as shall be thought convenientcompar. 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 386.
The alteration of the tymber of the cruiffes to be wyder nor they ar at the present(b) 1538–9 Edinb. Guild Ct. 14 Feb.
Gageand the samyn (ane) inche woidar than the turnpik beneth the samyn(c) 1582 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 70.
That said Mure well be maid waider & biggit ane ell heichc. 1375 Barb. xv 505.
Blude bryst owt at woundis wid a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 72.
Longius … mad … in Cristis syd A slope, that ves bath lang & vyd 1460 Hay Alex. 1645.
Sa wyd ane wound to Lothomyne maid he Tha[t] men mycht baith his lever and loungis se c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 10/93.
Jesus with his woundis wyde As martir sufferit for to de c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 167/12.
Than swoir ane courtȝour … Be Chrystis windis bludy and wyd 1513 Doug. x iii 48.
Thar myght men … Addres dartis, and wyrk wondis full wyde 1535 Stewart 21825.
Throw all thair weid tha wrocht thame woundis wyde 1567 G. Ball. 22.
God, for thy greit mercie, And Christis woundis wyde, Ane steidfast faith grant med. 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxiv.
Ane lang mand, narow halsit, and wyid mouthit ?a1648 Polemo-Mid. 76.
Widebricatos fisheros