A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Heis(e, v. Also: heize, heys, heyis, hiese, hayse, and Hese. [LG. hiesen, hîsen, earlier Du. hijsen, hijzen (now hijschen), related to variants in other languages represented by ME. hysse, hyse, hoise (later hoist).]
1. tr. To hoist (with a rope, pulley and tackle, etc.). Frequently with up. Also absol. (Often in nautical contexts, chiefly to heis the sail(is).)(1) 1513 Doug. v. xiv. 3.
Heys heich the cros, he bad Ib. 6.
Than al sammyn … Dyd heys thar sail 1533 Boece xvi. ii. 609.
The skipper … heissit the saill, and fra land removit 1549 Compl. 41/4.
Than the master cryit, … nou heise; than the marynalis began to heis vp the sail, cryand, heisau, heisau a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvi. 12.
Gar heis hir [the Fleming bark] quhill hir howbandis skaill 1570 Leslie 215.
The admirall … commandit the saylis to he heised up1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 217/148.
Thay hailid the toues & heizit the flaffing sailis1602 Conv. Burghs II. 140.
Gif the merchand chop cheyis vpoun ane ... puntioun quhairin his wyne ... is and commandis the samyn to be heissit and loissit1622-6 Bisset II. 244/27.
Ane schip … hiessis the saillis to go with the wynis 1667 Highland P. II. 46.
Captain Kerniborick steired about and caused heise up his sailes(2) 1507 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 77.
Thai sall fynd him seruandis to heise his tymmer 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 226.
Four menne … to help to heis up the ruif of the said werk 1563 Ib. XI. 248.
Ane pilley … to heis ane moyane to Davidis toure heid 1591 Ib. 428.
To foure warkmen that helpit to hing the bell & heissit vp the samin Ib. 459. 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 47.
Aucht bloks of tre … with four towes for heissing vp and doun the harrowes 1671 Orkney Rentals Append. 64.
The men who cleinsed the steiple and haysed up the bells to the cowpe-hall
2. transf. To lift up, raise.1513 Doug. v. vii. 3.
Quha lyst preif To streke thar armys furth, and heys on hycht 1533 Boece vi. xv. 217 b.
Scho … heissit hir handis before the legate 1567 G. Ball. (1868) 179.
The seily nunnis … heisit their hippes on hie c1590 J. Stewart 37/252.
As Habacuc vas heysit be the hair 1619 Garden Elphinstone 115.
He was wount T' uphold and heis his hands
b. intr. (for pass.). To be raised, to rise up.a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 695.
Heise up heir, na mannis maich for a yeir
3. fig. a. To elevate, exalt. b. To heis (up) one's hart: To lift up one's heart, take courage; also, to lend courage, embolden.a. 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 10.
To heis on hicht pure pesantis … , From base estait, to throne imperiallb. 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 128.
Be Hanniballis and heis ȝour hartis sum hear 1570 Ib. xiii. 174.
We ar anew, thairfoir heis vp ȝour hartis, And fordwarts marche 1626 Garden Worthies 79.
That honor yet heis'd nought too high thy heart
