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.
Quotation dates: 1500-1606
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Quhisper, v. Also: quhispir, -yr, whisper; quhesper. [Late ME and e.m.E. quysper, whysper (Prompt. Parv.), whisper (1515), ONorthumb. hwisprian. Cf. early Flem. wisperen.] To whisper, in various usual senses.
1. intr. To speak softly; to whisper.1513 Doug. iii v 65.
A few wordis … With langsum speche said, quhispirand, as I mycht 1563 Ferg. Answer in 1563-72 Tracts 21.
Now to cry out with a loud voice and then to quhisper that your taill may not hear you 1579 Despauter (1579) 166. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 77.
For quhair they suld speak forth clearly they whisper and they conjure the elements be ane certain kind of quhispering 1596 Dalr. II 473/16.
Bot quha war thair freindes … for feir durst quhisper skairse [L. vix audent mutire] 1596 Ib. 320/1. 1606 Craig ii 69.
Then sweetly quhespering would thou say, I shall
2. tr. To say (something) in a whisper, to whisper (something).1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 76.
For quhat availes it to you, to hear a thing quhispered and not spoken out? 1590-1 Ib. 77, 80.
3. intr. To speak quietly or secretly about something. b. tr. To say, report, or suggest (something) secretly or confidentially (aganis another person).1513 Doug. xi vii 3.
Quhen all the Latynys … Fra hand to hand quhispyris fast and roundis On diuers wys demyng with murmour soundis 1513 Ib. 120.
Bot thai ar arch to schaw, Quhispirand amangis thame, thai stand sik aw c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) lxxxii 32 (M).
Gif I be sene in court our lang Than will thai quhispir [Bann. mvrmour] thame amangb. (1) 1562 Reg. Privy C. I 209.
It is quhisperit and murmurrit that sum suld forgett thair devoyr sa fer as to attempt [etc.] 1558-66 Knox I 92.
Many whisper that of old his [sc. Cardinal Beaton's] parte was in the pott a1578 Pitsc. I 30/27.
It was than quhisperit throchout the realme that the gouernour was the haill caus of all mischeiffe(2) 1570 Mar & Kellie MSS 24.
Thair wes a jowell send to our quene from my Lady Atholl as is quhisperd 1596 Dalr. II 331/18.
Excepte sum thing tha hard had of concorde betueine thame quhispired [L. submurmuratum] ane way or vther(3) 1594 Charteris Pref. Wall. in Misc. Bann. C. III 165.
In sa mekill that na man durst anis quhisper aganis thame
