A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Spy, n. Also: spie, spay. Pl. also spyise, spyiys, spijs. [ME and e.m.E. spies pl. (c1250), spie (Manning), spy(e (c1400), OF espie; Spy v. Cf. Aspy n., Espy n.]
1. One who spies on or watches (others), usu. secretly, in order to know about their affairs; specif. an agent or informer employed to gain (freq. military) intelligence. Also transf. Also to be spy, to act as a spy, engage in spying.(1) 1375 Barb. vii 555.
Then send thai furth, … The woman that suld be thar spy c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2455.
He … two secre spyes [L. duos secretarios suos] … to Thesaly … send To Assandrus that … Was to him stedfast & secre … To speire how all thingis stud thare c1420 Wynt. iii 330 (W).
Spyise 1456 Hay I 223/18.
That na man of Ingland … war nocht cummyn feynyngly, under colour of study, to be a spy 1460 Hay Alex. 455.
Hald ay thi fayis on steir And euir hald spyis in thair company 1460 Hay Alex. 1255.
Syne send thai furth thair spyis preuelie Quhaire King Nicolas in osting couth ly To speir the nummer of thair cheueleris c1475 Wall. ii 391.
I trow thow be sum spy; Or ellis a theyff c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 161.
To speik quod scho I sall nought spar ther is no spy neir 1531 Bell. Boece II 239.
Ilk hous in Ingland wes constranit to sustene ane Dane, that the samin micht be ane spy to the king and advertis him quhat wes done or said in that hous … This spy [L. explorator] wes callit Lord Dane: quhilk is now tane for ane idill limmer a1538 Abell 25b.
Spiys 1547–8 Treas. Acc. IX 145.
To ane fallo … that wes takin as ane spye, his maister than being at the opinioun of Inglande 1549 Compl. 98/17.
Thai var aduertist be ther exploratours and spyis, quhou that [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 689.
He send his spyis … To Jerico to spy the land 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 397.
He send away spyis to se gif he [sc. Matho Frig] wes at the mylne 1596 Dalr. II 316/23.
The Frenche men, quhen without tha slane had al the Inglis spyes [L. exploratoribus] about the toune, and al the watche men within the toune 1615 Highland P. III 275.
I am certanelie informit be my spie that Mcfie of Collinsay … hes gone with the rebels(b) 1609 Crim. Trials III 22.
Bot my lordis men had run so far, and his spayis that went before him so wnprovedent that [etc.] 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 24.
Pat. Houston, a 6 monthe prissoner, remitted to the Committee of Proces. He was takin for a spay c1705 Nimmo Narr. 76.
Shortlie after Mr Hoge came to London, he was jelousd for a spay or traffecker for Munmothtransf. c1460 Consail Vys Men 202.
Be weil war quhome of thou spek … And gar thine awne ene be thi spye(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 2862.
For the lufe of Gaudefere He will be spy into this were a1500 K. Hart 265.
Jelousy ran out … He said he suld be spy and bodwart bring, Bayth nicht and day
2. An instance of spying or surveillance.c1475 Wall. xi 996.
Wallace past furth quhar at the tryst was set, A spy thai maid and folowed him but let a1500 Sir Eger 1721.
They will have some watch or spy, Where that I bide, or where I ly c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1216.
That cruell knicht … Gart hald on them ane secreit spy, Quhen thaj suld pas furth of the toun
3. pl. as sing. Ambush.Only in Nisbet after Purvey.c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxiii 30.
Quhen it was tald me of the spijs [P. aspies; L. de insidiis], that thai arrayit for him, I send him to thee
