Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Toy, n. [ME and e.m.E. toye (Manning), toy (a1500).]

1. A trinket, a trifle. 1548 Treasurer's Accounts IX 269.
To the goldsmythes to be maid in ringes, targettis and otherres toyes to be gevyn at the mariage of Ladye Barbara

2. A notion, idea, fancy; a fanciful tale; a trick, a prank. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 718 (B).
Now, brethir, devyis To find sum toy of the new gyis a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvii 94.
As for his wyf, I wald ȝe sowld forbid hir Hir eyndling toyis 1587 Carmichael Etym. 34.
Ineptia, toyes, trifles 1592 Mining Rec. 69.
Mr. Johnis [blank] is mair subteiller and craftier nor my oliphant quha inventis this toyis 1600 Criminal Trials II 282.
Be very var vith his raklese toyis of Padoa; for he tald me ane of the strangest taillis of ane nobill man of Padoa that ever I hard in my lyf a1605 Montg. Misc. P. iii 20.
Vhen a toy intill hir heid sho taks … The worthiest and valiantest sho wraks 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 180.
Trust not into such toyes, Nor panse thow thair upoun 1622 Pope's New-Year Gift
Under colour of pietie the people they deceive: With trickes and toyes most cunninglie 1617 Criminal Trials III 587.
O Inglische! … now ȝe sall go doune quiklie by dissait … and by the toyis of fals accusaris … in quhome thair is nocht so muche sauorines or witt as in the quhyte of ane egge! 1640 Edgar Old Church Life 324 n.
John … argued with the minister, speaking something of the gentlemen and noblemen of the paroch, and of new toyes, quhilk could not be cleirlie understood 1646 Misc. Maitl. C. I 434.
In ane idle toy or mirriment the one did sell his wife and the other did buy her for 4 lib. 1677 Lauder Notices Affairs I 151.
The last muster day … did so fill the prentices … heads with vain toyes, that for a moneth or two after they returned not unto joynt

3. A woman's cap or head-dress with a flap reaching the shoulders. b. A man's nightcap. 16… Salmon Borrowstounness 437.
Sarah Small … rave the toy off her head … and did cast a dauner in at her door 1702 Cramond Kirk S. V 39.
William Carle … confessed he drew off the toy from Margaret Coupar's headb. 1691 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LIII 58.
[We learn how many] toys [or night caps the Rev. Mr. Wilkie possessed]