A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Array, Aray, v. Also: arey. [ME. araie, arraie, -aye (14th c.), AF. araier, arayer, OF. arreier, arreyer.]
1. tr. To arrange, to draw up, to place in order (for battle).1375 Barb. xii. 19 (arayande his battall); xiv. 157 (arayit in battale); etc. c1420 Wynt. iv. 338 (hys ost arayand to the fycht); 919; etc. c1475 Wall. v. 89 (arayand Butleris rout). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 57 (to battell thai war arreyit). 1535 Stewart 7932 (the battell hes arrayit). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3092 (arrayit royallie on the feild).
2. To attire or dress; to equip or arm.1375 Barb. vii. 536 (a voman pouerly arayit). a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 694 (thai arayt thaim in armis); xxxiii. 140 (gert aray rycht costly). c1420 Wynt. iii. 744 (he welle arayid his cumpany); iv. 1360 (men arayid in armys gude); etc. 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 10 (squiares honestely araiit). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 127 (in grene arayit). 15.. Clar. ii. 1425 (did hir aray full richlie). a1578 Pitsc. I. 343/22 (areyit in ane serwandis claithes). 1596 Dalr. I. 95/28 (thay aray thame selfes elegantlie).
3. To adorn; to put in order; to arrange.a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 188 (my palace arayd with gold). c1420 Wynt. vi. 1472 (hyr hayre in wympyll arayand). a1500 Henr. Fab. 1327 (rosis arrayit on rone). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 42; lxix. 2. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 883 (he fand his chalmer weill arrayit).
Hence Arraying vbl. sb. —1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 521/1.
Thair tresonable arraying of ane feild and battale
