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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hardy, a. Also: harddy, hardie. [ME. hardy, hardi. (a 1225), F. hardi.]

1. Bold, brave, daring; stout, valiant. Also absol. as noun.Common in Alex. and Hay, often as a rendering of F. hardi, and in verse as a conventional term of commendation.(1) 1375 Barb. x. 172.
A ȝheman wicht and hardy Ib. xi. 508.
The mast coward wes hardy a1400 Leg. S. ix. 105.
The apostil said ‘Beis hardy, … & beis nocht rade’ Ib. xvi. 110. 1456 Hay I. 85/4.
Ane othir way thare is knychtis hardy, traistand in thair gud harnes Ib. II. 157/16.
Sum man is hardy as lyoun a1500 Henr. Fab. 134 (Makc.).
Quha ma be harddy … Withowt sciens? c1475 Wall. viii. 82.
A hardyar lord is nocht in to Scotland Ib. x. 317.
The hardy Bruce a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 742.
Ane berne … , hardy and hait c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3148.
The gret elephantis … Richt strang and hardy of thare kynd 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6532.
The taill … maid the man mair hardie and bald a1578 Pitsc. I. 320/13.
The stoutest man, the hardiest man, that ewer was brede in Scottlandabsol. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1479.
The gude and the hardy Of ȝour cours sall haue warrandy a1500 Rauf C. 642.
In that hardy in hy he haikit to that hall(2) 1375 Barb. i. 28.
King Robert off Scotland That hardy wes off hart and hand Ib. iii. 94. c1420 Wynt. viii. 5096.
He wes … Stowt and hardy off manhede 1456 Hay II. 49/29.
That he be of handis hardy to defend him fra his fa 1490 Irland Mir. I. 26/25.
Thou suld be prudent, hardy and starkm allgud werkis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 83.
Luve makis knichtis hardy at assay a1578 Pitsc. I. 138/20.
Ane Inglischeman … prompt of toung and hardie of contienance(3) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 938.
Bot hardy wes nane … A ledyr [to] set to the hicht 1456 Hay II. 156/11.
That he be hardy and wele hertit to se justice done

b. Of character or appearance. Also comb.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 263.
He … the dragone sudenly Assalȝeit in hardy wil ?1438 Alex. i. 223.
Quha the hart bes maist hardy 1456 Hay I. 119/31.
Suppos every hardy spiritit man poursu nocht alwayis to bataill a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 924.
Baith war thai haldin of bartis heynd and hardy 1549 Compl. 13/29.
Annibal ansuert vitht … hardy curage(2) 1375 Barb. xi. 243.
Of hardy contynans thai wer Ib. 493.
Thair comfort and thair hardy cher

c. Of a battle: Stoutly contested, fierce. Of an action: Daring. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1338.
Ferefull was the noyes and cry And the assault cruell and hardy Ib. 1876. c1475 Wall. v. 834.
Hardy and hat contenyt the fell melle a1578 Pitsc. I. 31/8.
The gouernour … tuik purpois to do sum hardie witie actt

2. Venturesome, rashly daring, overbold. To be (sa) hardy, to have the hardihood, venture, presume (to do something). a1400 Leg. S. x. 581.
Sa he be nocht the mare hardy To syne 14.. Acts I. 35/2.
Na man … sal be sa hardy … for to pas ututh … the burgh for to by ony gudis c1420 Wynt. v. 5577.
That na man suld be swa hardy Ony gud, but prys, to ta 1456 Hay I. 75/16.
That nane suld be sa hardy to be present at that bataill Ib. 84/2.
Suppos a knycht wald be sa hardy and sa presumptuous that [etc.] 1535 Stewart 38300.
That none durst be so hardie and so crous To speik of him [etc.] Ib. 58469.
Wes nane … that durst so hardy be, To mene him vnto a1570-86 Maitl. F. xlvii. 48.
Than dar thow nocht be sa hardy To contrar thame a1586 Lindsay MS. .
Of all siclyk wordis thai suld be hardy to speik