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

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Culȝe, Cuilȝe, v. Also: cuillie. [Cf. e.m.E. cully (1576) and cull (a 1564).]

1. tr. To caress, to fondle. a1500 Seven S. 1438.
Thus is scho past hame agane, And culȝeit hir lord wounder bane 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 87.
[Dido] gan enbrays half ded hir systir germane, Culȝeand in hir bosum Ib. viii. x. 85.
The sukkyn wolf … hir lang rovnd nek bane bowand raith To geif thame sowke, and can thame culȝe baith

2. To cherish, to treat kindly. 1513 Doug. i. x. 27.
Now hym withhaldis the Phenycian Dido, And culȝeis hym with slekit wordis sle Ib. vi. xv. 90.
My nevoys sawle to culȝe and to fest Ib. ix. Prol. 50.
He … culȝeis spanȝellis to chace pertryk or quaill a1605 Montg. Misc. P. iii. 53.
Scho causles culȝies, and but falt defames

3. To receive or entertain kindly. 1568 Inverness B. Rec. I. 159.
Thom Waus strykis ane brocht on Jame McFale that … he resauit his feyt seruand McSande and culȝet hym feid [sic] New Yeiris Ewyne 1576 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. (Reg. H.) 18 b.
Anent sornaris, rebellis, and thevis that thai be not recept or culȝeit in the cuntray 1627 Reg. Privy C. II. 49.
To ressave and cuillie Roman preests to have and heare messes, … in manifest contempt of our Church

4. To acquire or maintain by friendliness. a1598 Fergusson Prov. (1641) 16.
Over narrow compting culȝies na kindnesse