A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Stare, Stair, n.2 Also: stayr. [ME stare (14th c.) power of seeing, 17th c. Eng. (Shakespeare) in this sense; Stare v.] A state of astonishment, musing or wonder, indicated by staring. Chiefly in Douglas. —a1500 Henr. Fab. 737 (Ch.).
Quhen he saw the watter and wallis wod, Astonist all still in to ane stair he stude 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1460.
Thus in a stair [L. stare] quhy standis thow stupifak, Gouand all day 1513 Doug. i viii 3.
Eneas To se thir nyce figuris thocht wonder was, And as he musyt, studyand in a stair [Ruddim. stare] [etc.] 1513 Doug. i xi 46.
Scho with hir sycht and all hir mynd rycht thar Hym to behalf sat musand in a stayr 1513 Doug. iv ii 58.
Half myndles, agane scho langis sayr For tyll enquyre and heir the sege of Troy, And in a stair behaldis hym for ioy 1513 Doug. xi iii 48.
Of hys speche so awondrit war thai … Athir towartis otheris turnys … And can behald his fallow in a stair
