A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Quis,) Qwis, v. [ME quysse to whistle to, echoic: cf. also e.m.E. whiss, whyss (1555) to hiss, whistle, and Quheis n., mod. Orkney and Shetl. dial. kwis, whiss to whisper, OIcel. kvisa to whisper, Icel. hvissa ‘to run with a hissing sound’.] intr. To hiss. —c1515 Asl. MS I 165/21.
In that ile of Tratota men spekis nocht bot qwissis lyke edderis
