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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
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Hede, Heid, n.¹ Also: hed, ed, heide, heyd, heed, haid, head; heat. Pl. hedis, etc.; also collect. pl. as sing. [ME. hede, heed, hed (13th c.), older hevd, heved Hevid n.¹ The earliest examples occur in place- and personal names, as Akin-hede (1260), Alano de Hertishede (a 1300). See also Hade and Haid.]

1. The head, of a man or an animal.(a) 1375 Barb. xvi. 161.
Hors com thair fruschand, hed for hed a1400 Leg. S. ii. 362.
This is the hed of sanct Paule Ib.xxxi. 395.
Na serpent has a hed sa fel c1420 Ratis R. 164.
At his hart and at his hed a1500 Bk. Chess 133.
Of his awne hed he tuk out baith his eyne 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 431.
To the barbour helit Paulis hed 1513 Doug. xiii. v. 61.
Now dum and spechles that hed liggis thar 1541 Prestwick B. Rec. 57.
He … strak hyme wyth his neif apoun the ed(b) 1375 Barb. vi. 407.
His hede wes bair Ib. xiii. 148.
Thai helmys and hedis claff a1400 Leg. S. xl. 279.
God in his hede sic seknes sende c1420 Wynt. v. 176.
The twa wyld bestys … Kest downe … Thare hedys 1456 Hay II. 6/35.
Quhen the pallefray put doune his hede … for to drynk c1515 Asl. MS. I. 172/5.
In ane ile ar wild geis with twa hedis 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. lvi.
Thay had thair hedis ay cowit 1533 Boece ii. vii. 73.
Quhen … ane ox was slane, … to the smyth was assignit the hede 1549 Compl. 120/18.
Thai cuttit his hede fra his body(c) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 357.
He saw gret lycht A-beowe that heid [of St. Paul] 14.. Acts I. 375/2.
A heid for a heid, a hand for a hand c1420 Wynt. vi. 1456 (W).
My heid salbe of gold gletand 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. vii.
Quhen goldin Titan … Abone the seis rasit up his heid 1549 Compl. 63/13.
The taiyl of the reyde eyttyn vitht the thre heydis 1585 Inverness B. Rec. I. 301.
The personis … to be brankit wyth the brankis in thair heidis 1621 Acts IV. 625/2.
That nane weare vpoun thair heiddis … any featheris c1650 Spalding I. 69.
Thair wes sevin hangit … and thair heidis cut af(d) c1590 J. Stewart 39/331.
No chap … mycht mak him lift his heed 1594 Misc. Spald. C. II. 124.
Thow … cruellie hurt James Schand in the heed

b. Used in the singular with reference to more than one. c1450-2 Howlat 163.
A college of cardinalis … With red hattis on hed a1500 Colk. Sow 645.
All the teith in thair heid a1500 Rauf C. 816.
Thair speiris in splenders away Abufe thair heid sprent 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 20.
Thai [serpents] lyk the twynkland stangis in thar hed Ib. viii. 13.
Thai left hand heich abuf thar hed gan hald 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. v.
Abone our heid wes the ursis twane Ib. 59.
Quhen thay heir his name, to bek and discover thair heid c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2487.
Thay can not flee, Quhowbeit the tempyll byrn abone thair haid

c. To tyne, want, or lose, the (or one's) hede, to have one's head cut off, to be beheaded, to suffer capital punishment. ?1438 Alex. i. 607.
Bot gif [= unless] the gude King cum, … Helmis and heidis mon we tyne Ib. 1779. 1456 Hay I. 116/20.
He that rebellis to the prince … suld tyne the hede 1533 Boece ii. viii. 73 b.
Na les pane … na to want the hede 1560 Rolland Seven S. 787.
To want thair heids, thair wes nocht ellis ado Ib. 5061.
We sall ȝow pleis, or ellis our heidis be loist 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I. 48.
Lat thea childer want the heidis, which … sall caus vtheris to stand in awe

d. The head in contrast to other parts of the body, esp. to membris.Freq. fig. with allusion to sense 10. 1456 Hay I. 66/33.
In all thing that has partis and membris, it is necessitee that it have a hede a1500 Prestis of Peblis 105.
Ane hed dow nocht on body stand allane Forowt membris 1528 Lynd. Dreme 881.
For quhen the heddis ar nocht delygent The membris man, on neid, be necligent 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 3.
Gif in the heid greit vertew dois auance Sa in members I think siclyke suld be a1568 Bann. MS. 92 a/8.
The heid the membris followis grit & small Ib. 134 b/7.
Quhen the falt is in the heid The menbaris ar seik a1578 Pitsc. I. 276/20.
Thocht he was the heid they war the airmes Ib./23.
Oftymes it is … sene that the airmes defendis the heid

e. transf. The head (bud, ear, etc.) of a flower or plant. 1513 Doug. ix. vii. 150.
Or as the chesbo hedis oft we se Bow down thar knoppis Ib. xii. Prol. 123.
The roys knoppis, tutand furth thar hed a1568 Bann. MS. 114 b/59.
I couiure thé … With thre heidis of curle doddy

2. In various phrases and special (chiefly fig.) contexts.See also Ovirhede adv. phr. and hand over heid, Hand n. 9 c.(1) c1420 Wynt. ii. 576.
Alkyn kynd of gleggys als That gert thame yhuke baythe hede and hals ?1438 Alex. i. 3238.
That his fare flesch na ware Reuin with heistis, hede nor hare 1538 Lynd. Justing 3.
Twa campionis … Past to the barres, enarmit heid and handis(2) a1500 Bk. Chess 1029.
Nor towr nor hous to set his hed within a1585 Polwart Flyt. 38 (T).
I sall … caus thé … seik ane hoill to hyd thy heid(3) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 602.
His tender hid fra hede to fute thai rife 1570 Sat. P. xxiv. 88.
As ane bledder blawin fra heid to feit(4) 1535 Stewart 69102.
Held nane vp heid bot he that culd be fals 1567 G. Ball. 104.
Thay quhilk … Contrair thy mycht hes liftit up thair heid(5) 1562-3 Winȝet II. 29/16.
The auctoritie of the apostolik pouer put out the heid sua, that [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II. 382/1.
This coniuratioune ..., hicher erecteng the heid, flew throuch the peple 1587-99 Hume 29/132.
In cittie nor in borroughstowne May nane set foorth their heid 1596 Dalr. I. 25/7.
All this tyme settis na man his heid out of the hous

b. Maugre one's hede, in spite of one's self. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2610.
That gart him on his arsoun ly, Maugre his hede, al dissaly 1513 Doug. iv. v. 129.
[Mercury's] wand … Quharwith he makis folk sleip, magre thar hed Ib. xiii. vii. 57.
Mawgre my hed, me behuffit susteyn The hard dangeris

c. To take or by over (our, attour, etc.) one's hede, to dispossess or deprive a person of something which he has or desires by offering a higher rent or better price. c1460 Consail Wys Man 414.
A levand mannys benefyce, … Na our his hed to tak his land Desyr nocht 1518 (1584) Perth Hammermen 1.
Quha that takis ane uther mans boith over his haid without his leif 1571 St. A. Baxter Bks. 41.
That nane of saidis baxteris by quhit [= wheat] attour his nychtbouris heyd 1587 Dundee B. Laws 476.
That nane of thame circumvein ane ane vther, nor tak his vark out of his hand nor owr his haid 1597 Ib. 523.
That ewill prakteis … of taking of nychtburis howsis our thair heiddes 1629 Black Sc. Witches 5.
For over bidding her and her husband in buying a piece of land over their head

d. Vpoun or on hede, headlong, To cum on heid, to happen. To take upon heid, to set out for. a1500 Colk. Sow 396.
Thay hurlit furth vpoun (one's) hede 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 424.
Just iugis aucht … nocht on heid … Determe withouttin iust cognitioun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9593.
This cace … come on heid, That I micht not at that time weill remane Ib. 10528.
A man … That rynnis on heid and lukis to na ressoun 1596 Dalr. II. 411/17.
The Westland vpon thair heid tha tuik and left Edinburgh

e. On (one's) head, on the person.Also fig. 15.. Wyf Awcht. 30.
Ȝeis lay ane soft wisp to the kill: We haif ane deir ferme on our heid 1562-3 Winȝet I. 14/28.
Thair awin wayis haif I recompencit vpon thair heidis c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 488.
Gods blissing sall lycht vpon his head That [etc.] a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxxix. 20.
To pour thir plages on my heid Ib. lxi. 24.
So lat his bluid he on thair heidis, On thair posteritie and seidis ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 6.
Ye must take them [the promises of God] back again and boad luck on the head of them

3. The head as the seat of the mind, etc. = the brain. Also occas. = person.(1) c1460 Thewis Gud Women 109.
[A woman should] Be ferme of hed, fut and hand c1515 Asl. MS. I. 177/20.
Thai haue nother hasty hed nor hand c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 377.
Full dotit wes his heyd 1513 Doug. v. Prol. 16.
Quhou mony hedis als feil consatis beyn 1567 Sat. P. vi. 89.
To heidis politick se ȝe geue na care a1578 Pitsc. I. 292/11.
They laid thair heidis togither and conwenitt ane counsall at Glasgow 1600 Warrender P. II. 421.
The people … being stirrit up he sum seditious heids 1681 Cloud of Witnesses 113.
It will not be the learned clergy or great heads of wit that he will honour with carrying on of his work(2) 1531 Acta Conc. MS. XLIII. 193.
No lordis … to geif voit … except thaim … that argunit the mater and had the samin ripe in thar hedis 1549 Compl. 22/27.
Mony ignorant pepil hes confermit ane ymaginet … opinione in ther hede 1567 Reg. Morton I. 22.
It hes bene murmurit and put in the heidis of the pepill that [etc.](3) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 496.
The Empreour tuke weill in heid; He thocht [etc.] 1567 Reg. Morton I. 22.
Hir Maiestie haid … na vther purpos in heid nor is planelie mentionat16.. Hist. Kennedy 13 (see Hevily adv.). (4) 1375 Barb. ii. 121.
Tak him as off thine awyne heid, As I had gevyn thar-to na reid a1500 Henr. Fab. 1178.
Of his awin heid, but aduocate allone, The scheip … gaif answer in the cace 1533 Gau 3/16.
As thai thocht and dremit efter thair aune heid 16.. Hist. Kennedy 41.
Ȝe bruittit me, that I had maid this of my heid

b. To put (a project) in heid, to initiate or launch, or, to undertake it. 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 171.
The quhilk [project] was first put in heyd be his grace gudeschire 1602 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 151.
As I haue so prouidently putte the maitter it self in heade, so wolde he be glaidde to haue ... my aduice quhat particular articles [etc.]

c. Of a project: (To be) in heid, in train, under way. 1568 Buch. Indict. 46.
Howbeit vther thingis wer in heid

4. a. As a unit in counting things, espec. cattle.With sing. after numerals in plur. sense.(1) 1482 Acta Aud. 109/1.
The awaytakin … of xiiij hede of nolt, that is to say three kye, thre oxin, viij twa ȝere aldis 1494 Ib. 192/2.
The wrangwis detentioune … fra hir of iiij^xx hed of oxin and ky 1513 Doug. viii. i. 56.
A mekill swyne With thretty hed ferreyt of grysys fyne 1557 Reg. Cupar A. II. 137.
Sex and twenty heid of catell, nolt and hors 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II. 137.
Quhilk cw, with vtheris sex heidis, was stowin fra ane seruand of the Laird of Findlatouris Ib.
The sex heid 1601 Crim. Trials II. 365.
Fourscoir heid of nolt 1611 Dunblane Test. III. 155.
Sex ȝoung heid of guidis ȝeir auldis(2) 1595 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 96 b.
Fourtie heid of cheis

b. A single one of the group of persons or things in question; a unit. Be heade = per head. 1498 Acta Conc. II. 132.
Ane last of salmond … , thre grissillis being in ilk hede alanerly 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 106.
[For] ony hors … it sall be leful … to tak of euerie heid a halfpenny 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 34.
Thair thevis … quhilk … ransoms puyr men about Glasgow for xx s. be heade 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII. 362 h.
Nynetene stane wecht of prenting lettres, price of the pund wecht our heid nyne schillingis

c. The haill heid, the whole amount, the total. 1585 Edinb. Test. XIV. 244.
I leue to … my eldest sone fourtie pundis out of the haill heid for his motheris bairnis part of geir 1589 Ib. XXI. 29.
The foirsaid dettis to he gatherit in … and the expensis to be tane of the haill heid 1671 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 6 Sept.
I ordaine ten merks Scots to be peyed aff the haill heid to the poor of the parosch

d. A measure of yarn, ? a bundle (of flax), as mod. Eng. head, in this sense 1704). 1565 Treas. Acc. XI. 440.
Ane heid of hemp and twa elsingis to the cordinar 1581 Edinb. Test. X. 185 b.
Ane pund of heid threid of xlij heidis and tua of plain heidis 1621 Jas. Bell in Glasg. Her. (1864) June 25.
14 do. 3 heid hemp at 4 sturs is 1. 6. 8. ... 5 do. 4 heid hemp at 10 sh. the do. is 1. 10. 0. 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 303.
Fywe small heads of cullored worsetts 1684 Clatt Kirk S. in Sc. N. & Q. 3 Ser. X. 28.
Delate ... for carrying out some lint on the Lords day ... confessed that she did only carry out a heat of lint

5. The top, or principal extremity, of various objects.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 140.
Syne his belt he schare in-twa & betaucht hyre the hed alsa 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 82.
A brasselat of gold with hede and pendes of gold 1516 Acta Conc. MS. XXVIII. 34.
Ane burd of gold with tua small beltis of gold with heid and pendes of gold 1591 Edinb. Test. XXIII. 314.
Tua dosone of girthheidis at iij s. the dosone 1635 Galloway P. 11 Aug.
Ane lang buttoune and silver heid 24 s(2) c1475 Wall. ii. 118.
Till him thai socht with hedis scharp of steyle 1513 Doug. i. vi. 20.
The braid steil heid schuke on the huntyng speir Ib. ii. viii. 52.
Quarellis with scharp hedis 1548 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 260.
ij speddis vith heidis, iij hut heidis 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 42.
They … strake the heid of ane speir throw her left foote 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 159 (12 Nov.).
Confesses the head of ane pleugh(3) 1509 Edinb. Hammermen 67.
For iiij pricatis to the torcheshedis 1535 Linlithgow Pal. 324.
248 gret tynnit nalis witht schorne hedis(4) 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 136.
For mending of ane othir flacat, first the side of it and syne the hede that stak fast 1530 Edinb. Hammermen 130 h.
For puttin one of the heid of the swas 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 26 b.
Flaggis for the covering of the heid of the said vne 1564 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 138.
Ane beir barrell wantand the heid 1595 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 583.
xij portage daillis to be the heidis of the bonkaris 1681 Irvine Mun. II. 295.
Tua skinns of pairchement … to be heids to the touns drum 1698 Edinb. Test. LXXX. 295.
Ane litle snufbox with ane silver head(5) 1580 Treas. Acc. MS. 36 (2).
Reid crammessin welwet to lyne the heidis of the saidis buittis 1582 Ib. 110.
Half elne … growgraine geanis taffatie to he heidis to the … sockis 1619 Edinb. Test. L. 263 b.
Tua dosone of wemanis gluifis lynit with taiffitie in the heidis c1650 Spalding II. 388.
Ane syd Holland cloth sark luknit at the heid 1684 New Mills Manuf. 64.
The silk stocken stiruped in the heid [to] he maid wydder in the topps(6) 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 280.
That na baxteris … watter or burne thair breid in the heid or sole(7) 1585 James VI Ess. 55.
Abone the heid of the shorte fute, I haue put this mark(8) 1616 Conv. Burghs III. 28.
That the lenth of the reill betuix heid and heid sall be halfe elne half qnarter long

b. To cum to an heid, to come to a point, to become serious.Also, to cum, draw (up), grow to ane heid, to gather or raise forces. Freq. in Spalding. (In similar phrases in e.m.E.). 1573 Three Reformers 78.
Had ilk preichour Into the mater bene als frak … It had not cum to sic an heid c1650 Spalding I. 173.
So these who had subscrivit aganes thair willis ... flokkit and drew wp to ane heid Ib. 176.
He growis to ane heid and convenis of hieland men and lowland men about 2000 hors and fut Ib. II. 298, 320, 329, 333, etc. Ib. 352.
He wes informit that his sone the Lord Gordone wes in the toune of Banf growing to ane heid ... bot his sone had no sic intentioun as to grow to ane heid against him 1697-1707 D. Hume Accompt of Estate 37.
They were [not] come to any considerable head, yet the country was called out

6. The top of a building, wall, piece of furniture, etc. 1513 Doug. xii. iii. 47.
[They] Clam on the hight and hedis of the towris 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 527.
For gemma bandis to the heidis of the wyndow 1516 Edinb. Hammermen 92.
For … bukcrem to the heid of the altar 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 347.
Gevin … for dountaking of xxx chalmeris of the heid of Davidis towris 1559 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 297.
To Maxwell that fell over the heid of the wall 1600 Acts IV. 206/2.
This deponar … standing in the dure of the heid of the turnepyk 1623 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 283.
Four fuitt heiche of astller to be putt roune about the heid [of the tower] 1654 Edinb. Test. LXVIII. 7 b.
The heid of ane wannet trie wanting draweres

7. The summit or upper part of a hill or rising ground. 1490 Foulis Chart. MS. (Reg. H.) 4th Dec.
The heddis of the saide vj roude to the sovth and thar talis to the north 1499 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 430.
We sal gar set the stanis on the heid of the hillokis 1508 Ib. III. 127.
Quhile the gait come to the southmost graue of the heid of the moss 1533 Boece i. viii. 53.
Cantere, quhilk is to say the hede and hiechest part of the erde 1549 Compl. 51/35.
Ane man beand on the hede of ane hil, [etc.] ?1549 Monro W. Isles 14.
Upon the heid of this know thair is ane spring 1597 Reg. Great S. 186/1.
Fra the marche burne of Craigskene to the heidis of the corneland of Corrivinsocht 1636 Orkney Bishop Ct. 99.
The know vpoun the head of the brae

b. The upper end of a town, street, or passage; the end next the main street. 14.. Acts I. 364/2.
He aw to be … led to the hed of the toune 1458 Peebles B. Rec. 126.
The land … liand on the conȝe at the hed of the Briggat 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 105.
The hie streitt betuix the Castlehill and Sanct Mary and Leith Wynd heids 1565 Edinb. B. Deeds 197.
To big … ane foir ȝet at the heid of my said clois 1588 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 523.
The transe of Bellis Wynd heid owerflowis with filth 1681 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 302.
To put out baill fyres at the heid of ilk clos

c. The head of a river or valley. 1375 Barb. ii. 589.
Till thai come to the hed of Tay 1541 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 75.
[The place called] hed of the Catdene 1554 Prot. Bk. R. Lumsdane 31.
Discendand doune … quhill it [a stream] cum to the heid of the glakis 1580 Rep. Milne-Home MSS. 51.
Passand … to the heid of the strype called Akedein … doun the how of Akedein cleugh 1595 Bamff Chart. 141.
Keipand the said hurn of Corfodlie to the heid thairof, and fra the heid of the samen linalie vast 1629 Maxwell Mem. II. 201.
The blok of the landis of the heid of Annirdeill

8. The head of a bed or table.Cf. Bed-hede (c 1400– ), Burd-heid (c 1550– ).(1) a1540 Freiris Berw. 234 (M).
Abowt he went … Till ane windo wes at hir beddis heid 1667 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 280.
William Seatoun, … did take a sword off the heid of a bed(2) 1600-1610 Melvill 704.
The chyre, and high place or heid of the boord

b. The piece of cloth draped from the canopy at the head of a bed. Cf. Hede-pece n. 2. 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxxiii.
A doun bed with a hoster, with rufe and hedis of erras 1502 Ib. MS. XII. 83 b.
Ane rufe & hede til ane bed 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 174.
Ane grite arres bed witht ruif and heiddis 1563–4 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 138.
Ane cannabe with the curtenis … , with ane hed of welwat 1663 Kirkcudb. Minute Bk. 186.
With the inner valenes and heid [of a bed] of yellow taffitie

9. a. A headland, a cape or promontory. (Chiefly in place-names.). 1461 Liber Plusc. 278.
Apud locum qui Sancte Albis Hede [v.r. Sanct Abbis Heid] vocatur 1570 Leslie 257.
Quhilk ship … wes drevin … apoun the northest of Scotlande, at Kynardis heid 1600-1610 Melvill 169.
We tuk us toward St. Tab's Heid … We rowit in … betwix the mean and the head

b. The jetty or pier at the entrance to a harbour. (After Du. and Flem. hoofd.) 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 57.
To desyire of new the redressing off thair townis and heidis Ib. 63.
Mending of thair heides and bekynnis

10. The head of a body of persons, of a state, etc.; chief, ruler, leader.(1) 1456 Hay I. 210/26.
In all governance … we se ane hede and principale governour 1490 Irland Mir. I. 30/36.
The hienes and sublimite of the God, heid of hevin 1533 Gau 105/5.
Thay quhilk haldis thayme self for heiddis to the chrissine pepil 1531 Bell. Boece II. 115.
The nobillis, … that thair army suld nocht peris for falt of ane heid, maid Eugenins … king 1560 Rolland Seven S. 22.
Sa thay [sc. the Romans] become of all the warld the heid 1567 Sat. P. vii. 155.
May thay not put ane ordoure to the heid, Quha in beginning did the heid vp mak? 1596 Dalr. I. 34/6.
A noble clostre … quhilke the heides of the toune … ouirthrew first of al 1622-6 Bisset II. 221/13.
The admirallis … sall inioyne to the maisteris, and patronis to obey there heidis(2) 1456 Hay I. 201/2.
The lawe of God, the quhilk is hede and principale of all lawis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 633.
The royall Kirk of Rome Quhilk was the heid of kirkis in christindome(3) c1450-2 Howlat 290.
To the swallowe so swyft, harrald in hed

b. spec. The head man or chief of a family or clan. Espec. hede of (one's) kyn. 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 6.
The resignacione [of] the crovnareschipe and hed of kyne in the partis of Galwaye 1496 Ib. 269.
To seruandis of my Lord of Ergilis that past wyth … lettrez to the heidis of the Ilis a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 535.
Pluto thy hede of kyn and protectour c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 51.
Syne leif I the best aucht … To hede of kyn

c. The principal mover, the originator. 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 157.
O Turnus, hed and causar verraly Of thir myschevis Ib. xii. x. 116.
Scho was … Baith crop, and ruyte and hed of sik myscheif

d. The position of leadership in a company. 1660 Nicoll Diary 313.
Thai acknawledge … that Ludlow sould haif than apered in the heid of thame 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 217.
The baillies … to go before and march wpon the heid of ther quarters

e. In the heid, in chief. (= Chefe n. 1 a).  1514 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 47.
That thai [lands] are haldyn of our souerane in the heid

f. A woman's 'lord' or husband. 1557 Knox IV. 245.
Yf God will have yow exercisit under that kynd of croce. .to have your heid apoyntit to yow be God for your comfort to be your enemye

11. One of the chief points of a discourse; a section of a discourse; an article; a point, an item. c 1560 Sc. Hist. Review XXI. 142.
Ane wryting contenyng the hedis abufwritten 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I. 50*.
Off the quhilk [discours] I will remember yow at this present of ane few heidis Ib.
We sall begyne first at the last heid 1580 Rec. Earld. Orkney 154.
To ansuer to all heidis and articles contenit in this within wryttin precept 1596 Dalr. I. 126/4.
Quhilkes al gif I walde exemme and heid be heid walde explicat 1641 Peebles B. Rec. 108.
With the … instrument of seasing … in all and sundrie the heides, poyutis, clausis, articles [etc.] c1650 Spalding II. 11.
Thair cums from London … certane occurrentis, with ane index of vther heidis set out 1676 Inverness Rec. II. 270.
They ... wald fulfill & perform the haill heds and conditions conteaned in the said decreit in all poynts

b. A separate item of a statement of religious belief; an article (of religion). 1562-3 Winȝet II. 782.
At the last he procedis to tha heidis quhilkis ar to be haldin and trowit 1589 Edinb. Presb. MS.
The said William … declarit that he was throwchlie resoluit with all the heidis of religion 1607 Elgin Rec. I. 229.
He was not fullie resolved in the haill heidis of religioun presentlie professit within this kingdom

c. A matter under discussion, a subject. 1558-66 Knox II. 427.
That is the cheif heid quhairin we nevir aggreit 1570 Rep. Earl Southesk MSS. 12.
He hes had … divers conferencis … apon certeine heides and conditions 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 5.
Requyring gif thai vald approue thair … arbitrement concerning all controuersit heidis

d. Common hede: see Commoun a. 7 b.

12. Attrib. a. Of the head, or used for the head.With attyre, brusch, busking, caim (= comb), cod, fedder(fether), hair, muche, row (= roll), and vayn (= vein). Also Hede-band, -gere, -lace, etc. 1608 Conv. Burghs II. 253.
Becaus the habite and heid attyre of women … is no way comlie and decent — 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 253.
Tua heid bruscheis 1621 Ib. LI. 63 b. 1632 Ib. LVI. 23.
Tuentie sevin heid brushes — 1645 Ib. LXI. 205.
My best goune … , and haill heid buskeines — 1673 Leith Customs 25.
Ivory & wooden head cai[m]s — 1629 Lowther's Jrnl. 42.
Head codes, [= Eng.] pillows — 1624 Edinb. Test. LII. 236.
Sevin heid fedderis 1643 Ib. LX. 235.
Fower heid featheris … , fowr lang heid fetheris — 1696 Ib. LXXX. 202 b.
Ane parcell of black head hair — 1617 McPherson Primitive Beliefs 47.
Ane piece of the said woman's heid-muche that send hir - 1652 Ib. LXV. 244 b.
Certane headrowes for bairnes 1654 Ib. LXVIII. 39.
Thrie heid rowes — c 1420 Liber Calchon 450.
The hede vayn … , that lies nest abowin the hart wayn … in the bouat of the arme

b. Situated at the head or top. 1498 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 235.
Ex occidentali de una perticata terre le Hede Rude vocata a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 414.
A stark gallowis, ane wedy, and ane pyn The hede poynt of thyne elderis armes ar 1532 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. 5.
v furnist burdis set in seill by the heid burd c1563 Reg. Panmure I. p. cxliv.
The wther [entrance] fra the heid chalmer 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 332.
Some [part] of the foir wall, and of the heid wall 1614 S. Leith Kirk S. 12.
To stand at the heid tabill Gilbert Lambe [etc.]

c. Chief, principal, leading.See also Hede-burgh, -court, -man, etc.(1) c1420 Bute MS. fol. 153 b.
That na man may put his hede land fra his ayre c 1441 Coldingham Priory 258.
Thair spirituale fader … & hedekirk of Sanctandrois 1457 Acts II. 48/2.
That thair be a bowar and a fleger in ilk hede towne of the schyre 1490 Acta Conc. 153/2.
The four hede pilgrimage[s] of Scotlande 1506 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. Rec. I. 51.
The Assis continevit The actioun … to the nixt heid Schiref Court of Abirdene 1533 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 467.
We are content til pas the thre heid pilgrimagis of Scotland 1557 Inverness B. Rec. I. 4.
The heid burrow curt of Innernes 1557 Ayr Chart. 44.
The keiping of the heid faris of the said burgh(2) 1510 Misc. Spald. C. V. 395.
I, the said lawman, … , hedfold of Schetland for the tym 1558 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 80.
Olaue Sinclair … , chalmerlane and heyd fold of Ȝetland 1567 Sat. P. v. 65.
The heid traytoure, … Gif ye haue fors, se ye persew 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10742.
Now with schame thow art schent, heid patroun of all hures 1586 Digest Justiciary Proc. L. 27.
Euerie leige is commandit to assist the heid officer

13. In coining. a. (?). (? Put for: a coin). b. The obverse of a coin, the side bearing the figure of a head.a 1673 Mint Melting Journal MS. 2.
In chissell ..., in filings ..., in heads ... In lignots ..., in heads ..., waste ... Ib. 3.
Received in lignots 3 st. 6 lib. 11 vn. 12 dr., in heads 2 lib. 7 vn. 8 dr.b 1691 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 238. Ib. 244.
The committie [anent the mint] fand in one of these boxes the heid and reverse maister puncheons of the croun piece 1695 Ib. 252.
Conforme to his majesties warrand for cutting heads and reverses