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

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About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1385-1626

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Ee, n. Also: eee; pl. een(e, eeis. [Northern ME. ee, var. of e E n.]

1. The eye as a bodily organ. = E n. 1.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xix. 580.
Sowne ane erow in the ee Hyme hit
1535 Stewart 28718.
Theobald … That samin da thair loissit hes ane ee
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5616.
In the twynkling of one ee
1585 Reg. Morton I. 143.
Quhilk he will preserve as the appill of his ee
1604 Craig i. 14.
Though thou lackes ane ee
1608 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I. 20 b.
Johne Dausone … lying seik … of ane disease in his ee
(b) 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 68/7.
Baytht my eene greu as fast to gyddir as thai hed bene gleuit
a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xlviii. 65.
With angell hew & cristall eeis
1596 Misc. Spald. C. I. 100.
Ane ewill spreit … wald hef plukkit owt hir eene
1619 Misc. Bann C. I. 210.
He cam not mekle in my hous bot quhen he took physick for his een

2. The eye as the organ of sight. = E n. 2.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xli. 301.
Sene thai mycht with fleschly ee His wondir-werkis clerly se
1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 122.
Giff ye can aggre that the samyn be done be the sicht and estimatioun of eee
1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii. 212.
It suld be ȝe To quhome the pepill suld giue eir and ee
1588 King Catechism 173.
I haue bene ane ee to the blind
1604 Craig i. 10.
Let forraine lands now looke with enuies ee
1622-6 Bisset II. 177/20.
That nather the ee hes sene, … nor any tung or langaig can exprese
(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiv. 44.
Thocht he blynd was … With hartly eene ȝet he beheld [etc.]
c1420 Wynt. viii. 5879.
Blynd off bathe his eene fell he
1549 Complaynte of Scotland 24/18.
Thy ox sal be slane befor thy eene
1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 494.
Be the eare, … the eeis and vthir sensis
a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlvii. 75.
To open vp his blindit ees, that they Might clerelie see these gratious ees of thyn
1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 94.
Giff I sould jornalie with idle letters truble your sacred ees

b. Before (his, thair, etc.) ee or eeis. = E n. 2 b.1496 Douglas Chart. 156.
We … haffand God before ee, … decretis [etc.]
1509 Montgomery Mem. 72.
We, havand God befor ee, all in ane voce, … decretis [etc.]
1535 Carnwath Barony Ct. 83.
Haifand God befor thair ee
1549 Complaynte of Scotland 14/25.
Ane captan heffand his enemye befor his ee
1556 Lauder Off. Kings 416.
This juge is blynd, and may nocht se; For he wants God afore his ee
1583 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 173.
Thay … , havand God and gude conscience befoir ee, altogether reformit the saidis rollis
1596 Misc. Spald. C. II. 134.
Quhilk assyse … haiffing God and guid conscience before thair eeis, … pronuncis [etc.]

3. To have (also tak) ee (to something). = E n. 3.1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 139*.
I … hafand ee to mesur and rychtwysenes, … determynyt thaim fully tyl accorde
1398 Acts I. 210/2.
[To] gife him lele consail … nocht hafande ee to fede na freyndschyp
1461 Liber Pluscardensis 395.
Quha wald be ryche, haue ee til honour ay
1492 Acts Lords of Council 216/1.
Nocht hafand ee to the commoune proffit of the … toune
1549 Sutherland Chart. 107.
The saidis nobill lordis havand ee to the wele publik of the realme
1564–5 Reg. Privy Council I. 320.
Hir Hienes and hir Counsall mon tak ee and regard … that na kyndlie tennent nor possessour be removit fra thair kyndlie possessioun
1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 27.
Schir James euir having ee to his awin scope hinderit this purpose

4. The eye of a millstone.1568 Inverness B. Rec. I. 162.
That … he … sauld and disponit on ane mylstane of four fute braid and the ee

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