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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.

Huny, Hony, n. Also: hunie, hwny(e, -ie, hunny, -ie, -é; honye, hon(n)ie, honny; Hinnie.  [ME. hony, huny, OE. huniᵹ.]

1. Honey. Also fig.(a) c1420 Wynt. iii. 148.
He tuke and ete off that huny Ib. 216.
Quhat than huny is suettare? c1460 Wisd. Sol. 762.
The beis, deand, tynis the suetnes of the hwny c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 15.
My hairt, sweit as the hunye [B. hunny] 1513 Doug. i. vii. 29.
[Bees] in camys inclus thar hwny cleyn 1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/15.
Quhais speche … to me apperit … as certain hwnie to hef flowit Ib. 64/27.
First thai smeir oure thair mowthes with hwny 1671 Melrose Reg. Rec. II. 281.
Ane pynt stope full of hunie(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 280.
Wyld hony wes his lyflede ?1438 Alex. ii. 420.
Hony and oyle he with him tais 1456 Hay I. 20/18.
Quhen the hony beis cummys … and takis hony, the hony is bitter c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvii. 17 (R).
This warld … with gall in heart & hony in hals 1560 Rolland Seven S. 930.
The bie … Hame to hir hiue sweit hony scho will bring a1568 Scott i. 105.
As beis takkis honye of the floure a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 64.
Some [bees] sweitly hes the hony socht 1600-1610 Melvill 382.
Honnie is in ther mouthe(c) 1513 Doug. vi. vi. 75.
A sop, stepyt intill hunny … And of enchantit cornys maid Ib. xii. Prol. 138.
Quharof the beys wrocht thar hunny sweit

b. Used as a term of endearment. a1500 Henr. Rob. & Mak. 61.
My huny, Robene, talk ane quhill c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 223.
My hony, hald abak Id. lxxv. 3.
My hwny [B. hunny] … .I haue bene lang ȝour luifar leill

2. Attrib. with aquavitie, be, came (comb), drop, hart, lippis, pere (pear), plum, rosate, soppis, swete, throt, wordis. 1666 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 532.
To the Mr of Eliot man with hony aquavitie 01 16 00 1456 Hay I. 20/18.
Quhen the hony beis cummys on the flour of it 1585 James VI Ess. 45.
The hunnie bees, that works into the hyue c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxii. 39.
Merchandis at the stinkand styll Ar hamperit in ane hony came 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 310.
For fruits and huny kamys c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xxiv. 42.
A part of fisch rostit, and ane hony came 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 45.
Quhair as the vord of god is a sueit hony cambe to … spirituall men 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 124.
The balmy vapour … Distilland hailsum sugurat hunny droppys a1500 Peblis to Play 221.
My hony hart, how sayis the sang? 1567 G. Ball 210.
Thay hony lippis … grew gall 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 309.
To ane frutt sellar … for hony peris 1658 R. Moray Lett. 4 Apr.
[To] make you beleave spade shafts honny plums 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 32.
Thre vucis of hunny rosate c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxv. 32.
My hwny soppis, … Be warme hairtit a1500 Henr. Fab. 315 (H).
Scho … comfort hir with wordis hunny sweit Ib. 692.
Me think that hennis ar sa honie sweit 1535 Stewart 8064.
Scho salust him with wordis hwny sweit c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 106.
Thair hony throtis … With werblis suete did perse the hevinly skyes 1535 Stewart 8247.
With fair calling and huny wordis sweit