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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.

Gud(e)wife, Guid-, Goodwife, n. Also: -wyf(e, -wyff(e, -wyif, -wif(f, -vif, -vyf. [ME. goode wyff, good wyf (c 1325), in later use chiefly Sc. Freq. written as two words.] A wife or woman as the mistress of a house.(a) 1375 Barb. vii. 238.
He com soyn in the hous, and fand The gud vif [E. howswyff] on the bynk sytand Ib. 248.
‘Schir, perfay’, Quod the gud wif [E. gud wyff] ‘I sal ȝow say’ 1458 Peebles B. Rec. 130.
Than the chamerlain chargit that gud wyf gan[g] ham and manwr that arschap qwyl scho lefys c1475 Wall. i. 238.
In at the dur he went with this gud wiff 1509–10 Edinb. Hammermen 68.
The grotis at the gudwiffis gaif of the craft a1540 Freiris Berw. 82.
The gudwyfe thay prayit for cheritie To grant thame herbrye 15.. Clar. iii. 763.
Scho … fand the gudwyfe standing in the dore 1599 Elgin Rec. II. 75.
The minister sall admoneisch … specialie the gudman and gudwyffe of ilk hous to be present at the Wedinsdayis preaching 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 89.
The gudvyf of the hous sat at the fyr syd with the said witch c1650 Spalding II. 396.
Sir Williame Forbes … cruellie took the gudwyf, hir barnes and seruandis, and most inhumaulie schot thame to the yettis(b) c1475 Wall. i. 235.
He knew the hous … ; The gude wyff than within the clos saw he a1500 Rauf C. 175.
In feir fairlie he foundis with the gude wyfe, Quhair the coilȝear bad 1540 Lynd. Sat. 754.
The gudewyffis will not let freiris want 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4521.
Sa the gude wife ane bonie lytil kie, Hang at hir belt, scho knit richt quyetlie 1580 Inverness B. Rec. I. 280.
The gudeman nor gudewyff will mys na thing in respect the gudewyff beris the keis in hir awin keiping 1594 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 96.
Item payit the Witsonday meill … to the gudewyf(c) 1544 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 89.
Guidwif, I haue send to Carnbrogy til bring avaye the guidis a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 7.
Honest matrons and guid wyffis … Maist humblie to ȝow now dois plenȝie 1590 Crim. Trials I. 207.
Seing that the guidwyffe thy hussie sould haif detenit the puir woman(d) 1558-66 Knox I. 38.
The goodwyiff of the other syd of the gait hes tynt a horne spune 1620 Grant Chart. 323.
Reackoned with the goodwyff for ordiner and extraordineris 1654 Stirlings of Keir 494.
Our goodwyf presentts hir reall serwice to you 1658 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 201.
The goodwyffes servand wonman

b. With the name of the place added. 1510 Edinb. Hammermen 71.
Gottin fra the gudwif of the Castelhill of the Mertimes annuel last bipast xv s. 1523 Carnwath Barony Ct. 2.
The quhilk day my l. folloit in court the gud vyf of Mossat for the non furnissin of ane cariage in to the kingis veris c 1540 Liber Dryburgh 338.
The guidwife of Smalahanme Craigis 1596 Elgin Rec. II. 45.
Cristane Sutherland said the gudwyif of Cumȝeachis boig cam to her hous to stay the vomit of hir barne 1598 Reg. Privy C. V. 442.
Eftir thay had stellit thair horssis at the gudewyffe of Knokdairis ȝettis 1622-6 Bissett II. 98/5.
The guidwyfe of Ballyndalloch wes ane heretrice c1650 Spalding I. 304.
This samen Sonday the Ladie Pitmedden, the goodwyf of Iden, [etc.] … wes excomunicat in both kirkis of New Abirdein, being all papistis 1663 Forbes Baron Ct. 236.
Tennents … who pay corne … sall giwe the prooff theroff to the goodwyff off Ennetis