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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Smiddy, Smyddy(e, Smedy(e, Smethi(e, Smithy, n. Also: smidd(i)(e, smydd(i)e, -ay, smidy, -ie, -ey, smydy, -ie, -e(y, smed(i)e, smeddy, -ie, smuddie, smodie, smythy, -i(e, -é, smethy, (smeythe, smethu). [ME and e.m.E. smiþi, smeþey, smethi (all Cursor M.), smythy (Prompt. Parv.), smethy (1469-70), smithie (1556), smiddie (1665), ON smiðja.] A smithy, the workshop of a smith, a blacksmith's shop, a forge.(a) 1472 Ayr B. Ct. 15 Dec.
The ii rude that the smyddy standis 1497 Treas. Acc. I 328.
For tua laid of colis … to the smyddy 1507 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 140.
Smiddie 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 140.
For ane water trouch for the smyddye and othir werk lumys 1537 Liber Dryburgh 283.
Dowcattes wright housses smiddies brewcroftes [etc.] 1549 Banff Ann. I 26.
Grantitt the said pece land to Johne Smyth to be his smydde, and to be byggitt be the tovne 1553 Glasgow Prot. I 57.
Smyddeis 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 168.
In the smidday … Item thre iron studdis and ane cruik studie … thre naill toullis to mak nalis for peces of artailyearie … four foir hammeris of irne … tua pair bailles … ane schering vys … ane irne yet for Sanct Margrettis tour … ane weying brod garnesit with irne 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 320.
In the smiddie, ane irne studie, ane licht hammer, ane littill pair of glammis but the vys, and ane pair of belleis [etc.] 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 287.
Jhonn Gilcryst, smyth, to sett vp ane traveis of tymmer for shoing of horsis besyde his smiddy 1603 Crim. Trials II 418.
Fals coinȝie, prentit and forgeit be the said Arthour Smyth, in his smiddie 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 69.
He wes at the smiddie … laying and mending the pleuch yrnes 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 36.
Smiddie 1645–6 Peebles Gleanings 256.
For carying the stockis fra the croce to Thomas Greves smiddie 1656 Rothesay B. Rec. 265. 1664 Irving Dumbartonsh. II App. 330.
In respect of the danger of fyre, from the incomodiousness of the smithis shops in the centre of the town, the gavells in every case to be built with lime as far up as the smiddie extends 1666 Dunkeld Presb. II 66.
Going to the smiddie with a ladle to mend(b) 1459 Liber Aberbr. II 107.
Owr predecessoris … tholyt the smyth tyll byg ane smyde in the moss becaus of his colys and fuell c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 162/56.
On him come nowther stole nor fannoun For smowking of the smydy 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 353.
For careing of the iyron slang out of the warkhous to the smydie 1643 Glasgow B. Rec. II 58.
Grants licence to Johne Scott to build ane smydie at the brig as it is stobit, being threttie fuits of lenthe and tuentie of breid 1679 Russell Account 423.
[They] rode to a smidey a mile west and shod their horses(c) 1428–31 Ayr & W. Coll. I 226.
Le smedys in Carric Gate 14… Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 246.
To the stripe be west the smedy c1450-2 Howlat 825 (A).
Smaddit lyke a smaik smorit in a smedy 1494 Treas. Acc. I 250.
To Stene, smyth, for v wolkis and ij dayis wyrkane in the smede, … xxxiij s. iiij d. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1168.
In ane smedie I be smorit with smuke 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 345.
ij^c sclait to compleit the ruf of the munitioun hous abone the smedy 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 357.
For ane wyce to the smedie 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 360.
For mending the tua chimnayis in the smedy with cat and cley(d) 1600-1610 Melvill 24.
My father send me to the smeddy for dressing of hewkes and sum yron instruments(e) 1400 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 7.
My landis … to be hade to the forsaid Alexander … with col & lyme with smethiis with mill & multuris [etc.] 1450–1 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 86.
Item thyrl to the smethy of ix ferlotis of meil of the pluch 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 403.
That the sade Thomas dois na wrang in the withhalding of the sadis smethy and bellise 1594 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 51.
Smethie 1600 Glasgow B. Rec. I 203 (see Smith(e n. 1 (c) and 2 attrib. where this may properly belong).
Smeythes(f) c1420 Wynt. i 228.
Wyth hammerys clynkand on a stythy, Quhar men war wyrkand in a smythy [W. smyddy, E. smedye] 1461 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 362.
Smythiis 1496 Treas. Acc. I 289.
For bering of a ryvin gunstok fra the Kingis Werk to Johne Lammys smythy to bynd it 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 358.
For uphaulding of thair myllis and smythes waterticht(g) 1661 Old Ross-shire II 50.
Ordainit none of the tennentis … goe to any smuddies to work thair plough yrones or any other yron wark but onlie to Wm. Gow

b. comb. Chiefly in place names. 1426 Irvine Mun. I 130.
In loco qui dicitur ly Smethy Barr 1540–41 Irvine Mun. I 168.
Smedebar 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 13.
Ye brocht ane woman out of the tounheid, and causit me stay at the smyddie bar quhill ye returnit 1684 Irvine Deeds MSS (Disposition, Francis to Hamilton).
The burrow land on the eist the smiddie barr on the north and the hie street on the west pairts — 1577 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 37b.
Fra the lone souith outtow the ȝard dykis vnto the smedie burn — 1456 Exch. R. VI 216.
De iiij s. de Smethycrofft 1461 Exch. R. VII 88.
Le Broustercroft et le Smythycroft 1527 Reg. Privy S. in Orig. Par. II ii 533.
Smethy-croft 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 439.
The saidis smyddie and mylne croftis 1554 Reg. Cupar A. II 253.
Ane akir of land … callit the smedy croft 1563 Inchaffray Reg. 100.
The landis callit Smeddie Croft [etc.] 1585 Inchaffray Reg. 130.
The accris callit the New yairde … Smidde croft [etc.] 1585–6 Liber Scon App. 224.
To Johne Smyth smyth in Denemyln off all and haill the Smyddie and Smyddie Croft land of Denemyln [etc.] 1606–23 Reg. Episc. Morav. App. 426.
Smidycroft — 1459 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 8.
Terras meas antiquitus nuncupatas le smythihalch 1537–8 Exch. R. XVII 749.
Lie Smydde-hawch — 1379 Reg. Great S. (1814) 152/2.
Terras … de Smythyhill, Halton 1383 Reg. Great S. (1814) 170/1.
Terras … de Halton & Smethuhill — 1483 Acta Aud. 122*/2.
For the … awataking … of fifty viij thraif of corne takin be thaim out of smythyquarter and for the wrangwis occupacioun of the samyn landis — 1554 Grey Friars II 80.
And to the landis of Alexander Gibsone liand in the Smedye Raw — 1659 Rothesay B. Rec. 28.
The said proveist [etc.] … have sold … the smiddiested and yeard following thairto … for the soume of eight punds money Scottis — 1481 Lindores A. 187.
[One tenement is named … ] ‘The Smiddy Stoop’

c. attrib.(1) 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 8.
[Tenants] that refusit to maik hym thankfull payment of thair ȝeirlie smeddie boll 1621 Ct. Bk. of the Barony of Leys in Misc. Spald. C. V 221.
The haill tennents … to wirk thair irne wark with James Smyth in Hairstaine, and to pay to him thair smydie boll ȝeirlie — 1668 Stitchill Baron Ct. 52.
To examine Richeard Fairbairne his smydy accompts 1699 Jervise Land of the Lindsays App. 326.
Smiddie rent(2) 1569 Inverness Rec. I 178.
The smyddye lwmes following, viz., ane studie, ane pair belleis, … hammeris, thre teangis, ane bulle-aix, and the naill tuyll 1576 Inverness Rec. I 250.
James Tomson that wrangusle … makis schone of horse leddir, waittis of smyddie belleissis [etc.] 1584 Edinb. Test. XIV 176b.
I leue my said smyddie graith to … my sone 1619 Edinb. Test. L 213b.
Ane pair of smythie bellies price ten pundis 1658 Brechin Test. VI 148b.
He leawes to Robert Low … the heall smidie and smidie loomis 1530–1700 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) Merschell v. Muire.
iiij gret smidde hammeris price of the pece viij s.(3) 1517 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 177.
John Vilson, ballie, gaif … possessione to Elezabet Malcum of the smedy hovs 1583 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 312.
To theik the smyddyhows … with new sklait 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 352.
For ane lock to the smeddie loft 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 5.
For … haurling of the smedie chimnayes 1649 Glasgow B. Rec. II 516.
For hir kyndnes of the old smiddihous hir husband buildit on the townes ground in Briggait(4) 1513 Doug. viii vii 107 (Ruddim.).
Furth of his bed stertis, and hint his gere, And to his smedy craft and forge hym spedis 1595 Brechin Test. I 144.
The warkloymes … quhilkis pertenet to the smyddie craft 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 8.
Euerie plucht … to pay … for thair smeddie wark ane boll of aittis 1617 Perth Hammermen in Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 260.
The craft have admitted him to work in all the arts and science of smyddie craft 1669 Stitchill Baron Ct. 54.
For smydy werke, one pund eight shillings 1674 Cunningham Diary 38.
Smiddie work(5) 1560 Rolland Seven S. Schort Schawing 31.
Sone smeir thé ouir with smiddie smuik a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxv 2.
I grein to sie the sillie smiddy smeik 1596 Elgin Rec. II 45.
To weshe hir barne with irne vre and smiddie schinders c1600 James VI in Montg. Suppl. 266.
And elf-gett Polluart helpis the smithy smuik(b) 15.. Clar. v 2018.
The reike up raise as ane smodie smoke

d. As the second element of a compound. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 366.
To ane pur wif at the blak smydy