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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quha-sa, pron. Also: qwha-, qwhey-sa; quhay-say. [North. ME qua sua (Cursor M.), midl. and south. quo-so (14th c.), wo so, etc., early wha swa, wua sua, reduced f. OE swá hwá swá, f. hwá Quha. Variously written as one or two words. Cf. also Quha-so and Quhase.] As compound relative in indefinite sense, applied to persons: Whatever person or persons, anyone who, whoever; whichever one or ones; if any person or persons; no matter who. (Cf. Quha, Quha-ever, etc.)(1) 1375 Barb. xii 587 (E).
Quha sa had sene thaim … I trow forsuth that thai suld say [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 4789.
Quha-sa ane wourthy man wald haue Hir bird nocht change … This knycht for nane 14.. Burgh Laws c. 56 (A).
Quha sa beis fundyn other wais doande he sal gif viii s. 1433–4 Aberd. B. Rec. I 390.
That na baxtar brek the pais … and quha sa dois, for the first defaut he sal pay [etc.] 1441 Ib. MS V ii p. 651 (21 Nov.).
And quhasa failȝeis it salbe leifail [sic in transcr.] to the alderman to sett thair watteris as him think spedeful 1456 Hay I 157/6.
That quhasa war tane in sik weris, thai war slavis [etc.] a1500 Prestis of Peblis 232.
He wald him sayne with benedicite Quhasa [Ch. Quha] spak of degrading of his degre a1508 Kynd Kittok 3 (Ch. & M.).
Thai callit her Kynd Kittok quhasa hir weill kend 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3451.
As quha sa lists to reid the veritie, In halie scripture he may find this thing 1551 Hamilton Cat. 48.
Quhasa also for lufe … of … thair lord … hurtis ony uther man … that man forsakis the trew God of hevin 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 89.
This mysterie thairfoir, quha sa not only uiolatis but alswa despysis, he dois not ouerthraw all(2) 1409 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 72.
Ande quhasa refusis til submit him to the saide lordis [etc.] … the party refusand that nouthir of the saide lordis sal mayntene na suppouel [etc.] 14.. Acts I 67/2.
That quha sa hes mar than iiii ky that he tak lande [etc.](3) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 3.
Quha-sa wil be Vertuise suld idilnes fle Ib. 31. Ib. xxxii 309. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 393.
Quha-sa dois biding felis na ill eftire 1509 Justiciary Rec. II 143.
And quhasa dois it salbe dittay to iustice air 1513 Doug. i Prol. 161. c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 287 marg.
Quha sa will follow Crist monn vterly joperde him self(b) 1458 Perth Guildry MS 1.
Quhay say falȝes and brekis pase sal pay [etc.](4) 14.. Acts I 30/2.
Quhasa has lent his kyll til ony man and it brynnis he that it was lent to is haldyn to restore it(5) 1375 Barb. ix 660 (C).
[He] ourcom mony a mody man, Quha-sa the suth of hym vald reid a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1.
It ware spedfule, quha-sa cuthe, To put in wryt … It that mycht men gere lefe syne Ib. xl 86.
Hyme thocht That medful wes, quha sa mocht a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 561. a1500 Rauf C. 675.
With dosouris to the duris dicht, quha sa wald deme 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1963.
Yone war, said scho, quha sa the richt discriues, Maist vailȝeand folk Id. Æn. v Prol. 44 (Sm.).
For quha sa list seir glaidsum gemmis leir Full mony mery abaittmentis followis heir Ib. viii 39 (C).
Lyke as by gret engynys quha sa wald A strang cite assail(6) 1392 Lennox Mun. 47.
The saydis William and Issabel or the tane of thaim qwhey sa than be off lywe 1409 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 74.
Of a dochtir qwha sa hit be of the saide Sir William 1458 Exch. R. VI 391.
We charg yhow oure custumaris forsaid quha sa happinnis to be for the tyme, that yhe [etc.](7) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 561.
The emperoure … Hichtand fare reward & gret To quha-sa erast mycht hym get ?1438 Alex. ii 1826.
With force fechtand agane he went Maugre quha-sa had matelent a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 771.
Yit makis he mery, magry quhasa mynt(8) c1475 Wall. iv 534.
The strenth he tuk and bade thaim hald it still … , assailȝe quha sa will