A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1400-1605, 1686
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Gay, a., n., and adv. Also: gaye. [ME. gaye, gay (a 1310), OF. gai.]
1. Of things: Pleasing to the eye; beautiful, showy.c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2852.
Than thocht him at that ymage gay Bowned to pas frome him away c1450-2 Howlat 27.
With girs gaye as the gold c1450-2 Ib. 399.
Ane grene tre, gudly and gay a1500 Henr. Fab. 64.
Ane cok … with feddram fresch and gay a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 476.
His brydill bellisand and gay c1515 Asloan MS I. 307/30.
The riche river of the Ryne with mony gret gay cite c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 3.
A … garth, full of gay flouris c1500-c1512 Ib. 365.
He grathit me in a gay silk 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 254.
The armour of Eneas, fresch and gay c1552 Lynd. Mon. 151.
In habyte gaye and glorious 1573 Satirical Poems xlii. 400.
Ȝe big gay castellis in the air
b. Excellent, splendid.c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 54.
A gud gay wynd out off the rycht art com 1533 Bell. Livy I. 152/25.
Becans vertew wes honorit in this wise, it gaif occasioun to wemen to do gay vassalege 1562-3 Winȝet II. 58/22.
This is the suir and maist gay ordoure of grouing 1596 Dalr. I. 31/10.
In the gudnes and multitude of herring it hes a gay commend
2. Of persons: Cheerful or lively in disposition; handsome in looks or dress.c1420 Wynt. i. 312.
Sethys sonnys … Luwyde Kaymys dowchtrys stowt and gay ?1438 Alex. ii. 2001.
He is … of fare hauing, gude and gay c1420 Ratis Raving 1406.
This eild is ioly, proud and gay, And louis weil ay new aray c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 278.
Wallace maid the gayast ay agast a1500 Golagros and Gawane 337.
Schir Gauane the gay, grete of degre a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1492.
To luf it war fer honestare Ane knycht or ellis a gaye sqwyare c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 17.
I saw thre gay ladeis sit in ane grene arbeir c1500-c1512 Id. v. 1.
My gudame wes a gay wif 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 84.
Ane hundreth gay ambassatouris c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 84.
The glaidest man was gayest for to se, With scarlet cap a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xli. 54.
Syn groomis that gay is … With suordis assayis
3. Absol. as n. a. A gay person. b. A gay part or sample.a. a1500 Henr. III. 146/21.
Than fell that gay to groundis a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 786.
I will the ganandest gate to that gay glydeb. a 1568 Satirical Poems xlviii. 93.
The best and the gay of it, myself tuk a say of it
4. adv. a. Gaily. b. Considerably, very.a. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 131.
Schir Gawyne gais furth the gait, that graithit wes gay c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 28.
Send in ȝour steid ȝour ladeis grathit up gayb. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. Ep. Ded.
Any of your enemies (of which … yo've had a gay convenient number)
