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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Noy, n. Also: noye. [ME. (Manning) and e.m.E. noy(e, ME. also nuy(e (c 1320) and niye (114th c.), common aphetic form of Anoy(e n., Ennoy n.] Vexation, distress, suffering; harm, trouble; worry, anxiety; fuss.In plur. also = wrongs, injuries.(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 554.
The noy, the trawaill and the payne That he had tholyt Ib. x. 155*.
He saw so hard the cuntre stad That he gret noy and pite had c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1172 (C).
A place of noye and fellounye ?1438 Alex. ii. 6363.
Playand at the ches … For to forȝet noy and care 14.. Acts I. 37/2.
Quhar thruch his nychtburis inryn na scathe nor noye a1450 Fifteen Ois 189. a1500 K. Hart 83. a1500 Bernardus 26.
For foly expens but temporance is noy c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 116. 15.. Dunb. App. xi. 10. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 138.
Be noy of his woundis Ib. II. 226.
He past the remanent nicht with gret noy and displeseir 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 152 b.
Sic daly discorde and noy 1535 Stewart 26318. Ib. 14916.
And he did so, he said it wald … gender sturt and noy c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1334.
Into his hart thair grew sic noy Ib. 1477. c1552 Id. Mon. 3833. 15.. Dum Wyf 29. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4210. a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 84.
Noy vpon noy Markis to destroy My wofull lyfe c1590 J. Stewart II. 182/11. c1590 Fowler I. 65/197. 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 586.
Which we fear will breed much noy 1600 Crawford Mun. Invent. II. 213 (4 March).
Quhill we gett word bak agane, … [this matter] will hald me in ane toitt off noy(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 610.
& to al Cristyne men to do noy c1420 Wynt. viii. 5648 (C). 1535 Stewart 1381. Ib. 8641, 24978.
How it had done thame greit sturt and noy 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1263.
Quha thaue ȝe hard or sene To do ȝow noy? — 1584 Colville Lett. 82.
Befor he work noy to this estait c1590 J. Stewart II. 221 § 87.(3) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 42/20.
Or thow tak gret noye and tyritnes in prayer a1585 Arbuthnot in Maitl. Q. xxxvii. 112.
For warldlie geir take neuer noy(4) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1044.
Na nane of the nynt degre haue noy of my name a1500 Rauf C. 536.
Me tharth haue nane noy of myne erand For [etc.] a1500 Seven S. 2725.
This hale empyr thocht I had won Ȝe suid haf na noy of me(5) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1424.
Still in the sessoun all thingis remanit thair Perpetuallie but outher noy or sair c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1056.
Quhare that thou sould with … joy Have borne thy birth butt pane or noy(6) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 9.
With littill noy, thay can convoy Ane mater fynaly 1535 Stewart 11026.
Quietlie withoutin dyn or noy Ib. 41143.
This ȝoung Walter with litill sturt or noy, He maid thame all to be as clois and quoy Ib. 18766, 31807, 44140, 54336; etc.plur. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 243.
How He tholyt noys sere ?1438 Alex. ii. 2454.
And my noyis that ar sa greif c1420 Ratis R. 961. Arundel MS. 260/43.
In perrell & tribulacion, In all anger, noyis & vexacioun … geve me consolacioun a1568 Montg. Bann. MS. p. 53/25.
No noyis fra I awalk can me impesche c1590 Fowler I. 61/81. Ib. 138/ii. 9.
The lyfe of mortall men … is but a stage of noyes 1604-31 Craig ii. 84.
That proud vsurper worker of my noyes 1653 Ane Proclamation xxvii. 2 in Fugitive Poetry 2 Ser.
Wee cry a hoyes An-nent a twa, na tree, na four noyes