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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stay, v.¹ Also: staye, stayie, stey. P.t. and p.p. stayit(t, -et, stayt, stayed, stayied, staied, staide, stayd(e, steyit, steyed, sted, styet. [Late ME and e.m.E. steyyn (Prompt. Parv.), stay (?a1500), staye (1539), staie (a1548), stey (a1550), prob. OF (e)stai-, f. ester (13th c. in Wartburg), L. stāre to stand.]

I. tr. 1. To prevent or stop (a person) doing (also const. to do) something; to keep (a person or thing) fra, from, of a course of action, carrying out a process, etc., also, thairour. Also reflex.The 1571 quot. may belong in sense 2.(1) 1571 Grant Chart. 146.
In caice onye persone … steill [etc.] … the said Angus oblissis him … to staye and stope the samyn a1578 Pitsc. II 177/7.
The Quene … and the Quene of Ingland sould haue mett togither at Ȝork [etc.] … the 24 day of Julij … Bot efter this they war stayit againe be ressone of ane great cummer that was in France 1584 Gowrie P. 40.
When the wind was faire I was stayed, and when I could not mak saile I was aprehendit 1595 Aberd. Council Lett. I 61.
Ye sall retene the sowme … ay and quhill [etc.] … It is not necessair to write to James Davidsoun seing your comptis ar hard and allowit quhilk is ane sufficient warrand to him to stay and lett him for this my letter quherby I desyr him to do the samyn 1599 Anal. Scot. I 104.
I haif nocht visit your Lordship … being stayit be my familiar enemy, podagra 1600 Crim. Trials II 188.
This deponar pressand to enter … he wes a litill stayit be thame 1600-1610 Melvill 258.
This was a grait vexation … to sie … the best part of my flok ventured upon a pak of pirates … And yit I durst nocht stay sum les nor I steyed all 1600–1 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 108/10, 9.
He saw Hew Moncreiff strikking in wnder the chalmer dur with ane jedwart staff and wald nocht be steyit be the deponer 1602 Treas. Acc. MS 117b.
To support his expensis being stayit be contrary windis 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 4.
That scho wes steyit and that hir mother said to hir, Quhat ailleth ye? 1608 Crim. Trials III 41.
Mynting again to haif struckin the deponer, he wes stayed be Williame Maxwell 1622 Elgin Rec. II 174.
Hephburne pat his thie to stay Robert Martein, and wald nocht lat him sitt doun 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 100.
Staide c1650 Spalding I 341.
Word … cam … that his Majestie wes fast cuming forduard with ane gryte army … Bot he most pollitiquelie is stayit step and step be our Scottis and English(2) c1543–7 Hist. Rowallan in McNaught Kilmaurs 61.
Robert Boyd … offirit battel to the said Earle of Glencairne, and stayit him from his pretendit court hoilding 1570 Leslie 229.
To stay the Inglis men frome setting alande ony victuallis 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 8.
The saids provest … stayed the said Mr. Thomas Leslie … fra attempting ony iniurie against utheris 1591 Douglas Corr. 187.
Treulie thare sold haue na wardlie tourne stayit me frome the keiping of the said day 1594 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. IX 92.
[[They] asked that he might still be given licence to read prayers to them] … becaus of the distentioun quhilk stayis ane greit pairt of that bounds frae thair paroch kirk 1594 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III 38.
The Laird of Rowallan … perseweth the kingis servand Williame Huntar, and steyeth him fra uplifting his teinds 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 39.
Gif ony persone … sall efter thai … gif in thair bandis to be proclameit stay the minister fra proclameing thame that thai sall pay thairfoir vj s. viij d. vnlaw 1607 Rothiemay Kirk S. in J. Gordon Hist. I App. lii.
That the myln be stayit from grinding on the Saboth day 1616–17 Dumbarton Common Gd. Acc. 12.
Ane lettir … to stay the proveist [etc.] … fra coming … to this toune 1619 Monimail Reg. Ct. 18 Nov.
To stay him fra laiding peitis furth of the myr 1659 A. Hay Diary 131.
The foule day having stayed me from going to Ed^r — 1570 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxi.
How sick trublaris may be stayed of thare interprisis 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I 104.
Sene the tyme that thai war steyit of thair said pretendit mariage 1587 Waus Corr. 392.
I was adverteisit that your l[ordship] was stayit of youre weyage, wthervayis I wald haue bene at youre L[ordship] or now 1612 Douglas Corr. 375.
Vpoun occasioun of these warrantis … they wer stayed and impedit of any proces —1632 Cullen B. Ct. MS 27 April (see 3 c below).(3) 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III 139.
Yit nevirtheles sall thair greitnes nor respect of thair kinrent stay ws to execut justice 1566 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 86.
That diverse of our deirest brethren, … by ȝou are stayed to promote the kingdome of Chryst 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xl 363.
Let not the lufe of this lyfe temporall … Stay ȝow to cois with lyfe celestiall 1582–3 St. A. Kirk S. 498.
Patrik Walker … ansueris … he wald nocht stay him to marie 1586 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 70.
I wald … Sir Robert Melvill wer send, for he will nocht be stayit to cum as ane messinger 1587 Warrender P. (SHS) II 36.
He wes stayit by that accident to heare tham himself 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 238.
The said Dauid being stayit to cum that day 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 50/160.
Feare Stayde other fowlis to preis for to defend her — 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 339.
Untrew reportis … as that hir Majestie had intentit to impede, stay, or molest ony of thame using thair religioun and conscience frelie

b. To keep (a person or thing) in the state expressed in the dependent participle. 1589 Maxwell Mem. 165.
My men quhome fra the geir was tane … was ernist to haif steyit thair guidis and geir onreft thame 1596 Elgin Rec. II 45.
Scho … layd the same to the barne to stay hir barne uncassin 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 168.
Be thy witchecraft, thow stayit the watter onrun directlie to the mylne, sua that the mylne lead culd neuer contene the watter 1600 Elgin Rec. II 80.
Thomas Hepburn promeist to staye his myln … ongoing on the Sabboth daye 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 73.
To have steyit the deid unburiet

2. To prevent; to fail to bring about or enact; to postpone or delay (an occurrence, event, action, etc.); to cause to cease, to bring to an end; to check or allay (a state of affairs, situation, etc.). Also const. to do, from (something); fra, out of (a person or place).(1) 1556 Knox IV 102.
The law … was a brydill that did let and stay the rage of externall wickitnes in many 1562-3 Winȝet II 57/23.
Quha is he … quha wald preis to stay that thing [sc. increase of religion]? 1563–4 St. A. Kirk S. 212.
Desyris the ministerie to caus stay proclamacion of thar bannis and put inhibicion to Robert to mary quhill this impediment be discussit 1558-66 Knox II 321.
The Erles of Huntley and Morray … cam with thair cumpanyes, send fra the Quene to stay that tumult a1585 Maitl. Q. 82/45.
We may not stay Quhat God pleis doe ws till 1589 Edinb. Presb. July.
Nocht to proceid farder againis [him] bot to stay the pronuncing of the sentence 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 236.
For rasing of storme, to stay the Quenes hame-cuming to Scotland 1590 Reg. Morton I 166.
I can nocht empesche nor stayie invyfull menis speking 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 95.
This distance staies not his presence to me a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii 74.
‘And I sall stay my course’, quod he 1612 Inverness Rec. II 101. c1615 Chron. Kings 126.
The first purposis the regent intendis to do wes to lay ane seadge to the castell of Edinburgh bot in respect of the winter inschetting he stayit the same quhill the nixt spring 1622-6 Bisset I 179/27.
Ane exceptioun temporall … stayis and stopis the intensioun of the persewer for ane certane space of tyme 1622-6 Bisset II 240/29.
Nocht causand stay and tarie the departing of schipis a1634 Forbes Rec. 377.
That ye may stay your meitting till the first Twysday of Julij, 1605 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
Nor shall [we] cast in any let or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolutionp.t. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 29.
And had behedit thame bayth had not the arryving of the Inglis army stayit his purpose 1596 Mar & Kellie MSS 46.
The people … tuik armes, and war nocht we stayed thair faird, thay had licht, … upoun mony of the counsallouris 1597 R. Bruce in Wodrow's Life of Bruce 178.
They affirm next that we were the hounders out of the personal assisters and applauders of the tumult. If we were the hounders, then, I ask, who stayed it? Who restrained the furies?p.p. 1562-3 Winȝet II 69/24.
Quhow sone thai [sc. heresies] sprout vp, afoir thai begin to falsifie the reulis of the anciant fayth suddanlie in that mein tyme lat thame be stayit 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 279.
The proclamacion of bannis and solemnizacion of the mariaig betuix hym and Jonat Anderson to be stayed and cease 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 307.
Thir ar the names of the houssis that wer castin doun for inlaik of fyre: … the laird of Collingtonis hous … wes half tirrit and stayit be the lordis; … Johne Achesone merchand in Nydries wynd, evill handlit within and stayit be compositioun 1584–5 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 396.
Na nichtbouris wark to be stayet bot be him [sc. the dean of guild] 1587 Acts III 462/2.
It beis tryit that thai micht haif stayed or withstand the saidis reiffis and oppressionis 1591 Elgin Rec. II 15.
All halding of mercattis within this burgh on Sondayis to be stayit 1593–4 Edinb. B. Rec. V 107.
That the cungyeing of the new plaks … micht be stayet a1605 Birrel Diary 48.
Lentrone began, bot wes stayit, be reasone of the banquet and mariage of the Earle of Sutherland 1631 Misc. Bann. C. I 229.
This worke … was staied in the one and thirty Psalme 1638 Short Relation State Kirk Scotland.
Upon suspition that the putting of the munition in the castle would be stayed, the Lord Thesaurer did convey it quyetly to Mussilburgh 1644 Kinghorn Kirk S. 55.
The reparation of the bellhouse was like to be staied for want of money(b) 1583 Lanark B. Rec. 89.
Hie … being so slothfull and neklegent in punissing offenderis … gef hie had nocht steyit the punissing of the said Mungo hie [sc. Mungo] had nocht commettet sik offensses c1590 Fowler I 148/5.
To kill and save, to giue and stey releife(2) 1570 Leslie 65.
Stayit the sending of the army in Scotland … to pecefye that cuntrey a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 64 (Wr.).
Busie bees Whereof some sweetest hony sought To stay their lives to sterve 1597 Acts IV 126/1.
And gif they … had comperit thay wald haue elidit and stayit the samyn [summons] to haue bene put to ony probatioun 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 114.
Litiscontestation is made be admission of the libell to probation, and swa stops and stayes all defences to be proponed thereafter — 1584 Melvill 189.
The haill rents … ar sparpeled in sindrie parts … and thes … tenants … will na wayes grant till augment uncompellit be law, the quhilk the exception of omnium interest steyes from taking effect(3) 1562-3 Winȝet II 42/13.
God stay fra ws that wickit and cursit mokrie [sc. Manicheism] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 342.
Wpoun the xxiiij day the pest enterit in Edinburgh brocht … out of Kirkcaldie; … the cost wes evill infectit be the said pest, bot God be prasit it wes sone stayit out of Edinburgh

b. To prevent or cause to be suspended (a sitting of parliament, a court, etc.). 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 34.
Vpoun the last day of Julij thair was ane Parliament sould have bene haldin in Edinburgh and the governour … furneist the toun and held it [etc.] … and sua the Parliament was stayit 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 83 (Table).
Of sick things as stayes the justitiars aire or court c1610 Melville Mem. 148.
Thir and vther particularites moued them to consult togither how to get the parlement stayed 1607 Melvill 701.
He began to boast that he would stay and dischairge the Assemblie if they would not reid his commissiounes a1634 Forbes Rec. 375.
To stay the Generall Assemblie till that change sould be concluded in Parliament

c. To bring to an end, stanch, inhibit (a bodily emission). c1590 Fowler I 211/14.
To staunche, quenshe, lousse, the bloode, the bleise, and knott, That binds, waists, rinis, which I to stey meanes not 1596 Elgin Rec. II 45.
The gudwyif … cam to her hous to stay the vomit of hir barne 1684 Hay Fleming Six Saints II 25.
[He said] I shall stay his roring, [and threatned Gibb]

d. To bring (a horse) to a halt. 1603 Moysie 90.
He … lichted, and stayed his horse at the hill fute

e. To stop the use of (an implement), hence, to stop producing (something) by means of an implement. 1558-66 Knox I 365.
Thair was suche nomber of hard-headis printed, that the basenes thairof maid all thingis exceiding dear; and thairfoir we war counsaled … to stay the irnes

f. To impede, hinder ((the progress of) something). 1660 S. Ronaldshay 30.
Be this threid red and foale's foote staide. The Lord God light it, and foale's foote right it

3. a. To cause (persons or things) to stop (and remain) by force, to arrest (them); to hold (a person) in custody; to prevent the passage of (ships or goods). Also const. to the lawis of this realme, to be answerable to the laws of Scotland.(1) 1547–8 Corr. M. Lorraine 223.
Your grace servand quhilk ye send this way last is stayit and all his writingis tane fra hym 1557 Aberd. B. Rec. I 305.
The saidis schippis ar violentlie haldin and stayit be the said Gilbert 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 179 (see (2) below). 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 382.
Finding the veschellis or personis or gudis being thairin suspitious, that thai stay the schippis or veschellis, tak the salis fra thair rais, apprehend and impressoun the personis 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV i 122.
Gif thai knew hir majestie stayit or haldin aganis hir will or captyve, quha wald fynd rameid thairfoir 1568 Q. Mary in Cal. Sc. P. II 451.
And in the mean tyme I am stayde here, and yet will you that I shuld put my self further into your contrey 1571 Cal. Sc. P. III 673.
The Regent towlde me that I had neyther bene taken nor steyed but for yowe and that that was agaynst hys wyll 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 157.
I desyre that Seinȝeour Frances, Bastiane, and Joseph the Quenes goldsmith, be stayit and I sall declair quhat euerie man did in particulare with thair complices 1580–1 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 194.
The … porteris … to suffer na pakis to pas furth of this burgh except thai se the samyn customit be the custome stamp, and that thai stay all pakis of Inglis clayth quhill [etc.] 1586–7 Waus Corr. 382.
Ane vther lettre of arrestment to stay the schips 1587 Acts III 462/2.
Incais ony persoun landislord or baillie ressave … ony persoun fugitiue … or stayis or arreistis thame not 1588 Cal. Sc. P. IX 615.
My lord admiral hes stayit his schip … be the quhilk he vilbe utterlie vraikit 1592 Crim. Trials I ii 277.
The same guidis wer not onlie stayed and not sufferit to haue passage … , bot [etc.] … becaus his seruand caryar of the saidis wald not pay custum thairfoir(2) 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 179.
Souerte that Johne Mortoun … being presentlie stayit with his schip and gudis in Ingland … salbe ansuerable befoir oure Soverane Lady … at the instance of the said Baptista … at quhais instance his saidis schip and gudis ar stayit to the lawis of this realme for xij^c li. Scottis

b. To cause (a person or thing) to remain in a place; to retain or delay (a person); also, to get stayed, to be able to remain. 1568 Reg. Morton I 42.
I pray your Lordship … gif ye be myndit to send the man away … that I may writ sum cypheris to hir hienes with him and to stay him ane quhile quhill I be aduertesit thereof 1596 Dalr. I 264/26.
The king, Charles the Magne, throuch his prayer and ernist requeist stayis thame baith in France 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 91/36.
The smoakie vapours sucked vp by the sunne and staied in the lowest and colde region of the ayre are there contracted into cloudes 1662 Sel. Biog. I 431.
It was no small affliction to me that I got so seldom stayed at home

c. To stop or close a route.Quot. 1642 may belong in sense 2. 1615 Chron. Perth 17.
The vater of Tay being all frosin … that thair vas daylie passage … continewit sa quhill … that the cobellaris … brak the ice … and stayd the passage 1632 Cullen B. Ct. 27 April.
The said get is stayt within the boundis of Craigheid and castell feild and na passage thairfra, bot stayis all passagers thairour, as ane commone get 1642 Old Dundee I 419.
[The house] … had … fallen to the ground, … and stayed the neighbours passage

II. intr. 4. To stop, come or bring to a halt, to cease moving or doing something, also, to do something; to stand still; to hesitate. c1590 J. Stewart 188/10.
I staying stand in feir for to be seine 1596 Dalr. I 150/36.
Cæsar vset to karie this hous about with him, quhilke, quhairevir he stayet, mycht incontinent be erected 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I 147.
Ane man weill excerceisit in his arms coms vp … and at the first cals vp all thir four in ane nuik, and never stayis quhill Jone Ramsay chancit to cry, ‘Fy upon thé, cruell tratour … '. At quhilk speiche he drew ane lytle bak 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (Latin) ii 32b.
Antequam querelans vel suus prælocutor perdixerit aut percunctatus fuerit [marg. Cessaverit sall stay] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 25/126.
The pype … full doth sound, and empty stayes to play 1635 Lundie Poems 8.
Seing no obiect … Of vorth to mak his princelie troups to stay, Holds straicht his course … But quhen Apollo's police he espy's, He turns his cotch, and al his troups he stays 1640 Lithgow Poet. Remains 221.
But stay, O stay!

5. Of an action, activity, process (freq. legal), etc.: To be arrested, to come to a conclusion, to cease, not to progress or continue. 1583 St. A. Kirk S. 508.
The proclamatioun of all bannis betuix him and Cathrine Frans[che] to stay quhill [etc.] 1586 Digest Justiciary Proc. L 39.
His tryall stayes becaus sik persounes as ar summond vpon his assys compeires nocht 1593 Perth Kirk S. in Spottiswoode Misc. II 270.
Ane twelve penny candle … to be lighted … that all may see to praise God in singing psalms, which stays for lack of light 1596 Conv. Burghs I 495.
To desyre the samyn [matter] to ceis and stay quhill [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 139.
With a bleding excessive sa that … it steyed nocht four and twentie hours 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 86 (Table).
Lunatick men, quhen the furie stayes, may make pactions [etc.] 1622 Elgin Rec. II 175.
That the publict marcat desist and stay … after xii houris the said Setterday 1625 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 6 July.
His suit was grantit & the proces ordenit to stay 1622-6 Bisset I 168/31.
The pley ceissis and stayis, and as it war trewis and abstinance is takin betuix the parties

b. Of a parliamentary session: To conclude; to be discontinued or prorogued. a1578 Pitsc. II 235/4.
And all the commissioneris of borrowis payit taxationis to pay the regentis men of weir and so the parliament stayed

6. To desist from (of) some activity; to fail, or be unable to do something. b. Const. at, to balk at, resist. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 65.
The maister of Cassilis was the frackast and wald not stay, but in his heat wald lay fyre to the dungeon 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 178.
The captane … bad the toun gae to there armes … Bot the mater being sone meased, the toun stayed 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 336.
For the quhilk caussis the burgessis stayit and wald not persew nane heirefter a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 356 (W).
‘Tusch’ quod Curage ‘Man, go to, He is bot daft that hes ado, That stayis [L. spairis, W. spares] for every speiche’ 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 210.
Promesing to haif mareit hir; bot att Satanis command, he stayit 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 126.
Hew Houssoun … accuisit of Sonday wark by setting ingill to his malt … grantit he mintit to do sua bot that he steyit 1611 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 282.
The hast of the pacquet hes maid me stay to wryt Mr. Pa. Melvine's letter. It is only to requeist [etc.] 16.. Hist. Kennedy 23.
He, for to stay of sa crewall ane deid, keist me lord offb. 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 235.
Sua I awcht … nocht be decernit to compleit the said band, bot … lyikas I never consentit tharto befoir … bot constantle sted at the compulsion foyrsayd [etc.]

7. To remain or continue in a place, also, once, at an interval of time; to fail to depart. Also reflex. b. intr., specif. To reside or sojourn; to make one's abode (in (on) a place or with a person, etc.).(1) 1607 Highland P. III 101.
I haue stayit heir thir four or fyue dayis bygaine with the consall in deliberatioun [etc.] c1610 Lanark B. Rec. 121.
Then I wald stay na langer bot offerit to pay my lawing and the said Johne Connighame said I sould no gang and I wer hangit 1620 Grant Chart. 333.
Payit for Patrik Grant and my self, wha steyit twa meales eftir the laird doing his turnes 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I 289.
Howbeit ye stay two or thrie dayes and kyth in that action as commissionar for our townes entres it sal not be amiss 1628 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 27 Feb.
He stayit not bot is away agane to Murray 1631 Justiciary Cases I 178.
Traveileris did often heare those thingis wherof those whiche staid at home had no notice 1631 Justiciary Cases I 178.
The loird Reay said … but if he had staid but fyve weekis longer in the Lowe Countries he would haif knowen the certenty 1638 Henderson Serm. 318.
It were meeter for him to stay down laigh in the body of the kirk c1650 Red Bk. Grandtully II 144.
Ȝour brother steyis to long afeild 1669 Bk. Carlaverock II 56.
They shall be faithfull to the King … and stay by their collors so long as they are under command 1690 Stirling Ant. IV 20.
After the sermons the listed persons were desired to stay —1631 Sel. Biog. I 360 (see d below).(2) 1584 Gowrie P. 37.
I entered in shipp … but the vind being not in the vay, I steyed(3) reflex. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 3a.
Eschew cowatyce … And ay at sufficience thow stay théb. c1590 Fowler I 181/11.
I speire, quhat way will they me feid, If for to stey with theme I condiscend 1609 Crim. Trials III 64.
I hawe stayit hier in Edinburgh ane yeir and three moonthiss bygane 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 170/1082.
Adam like a hart is who Doth in a wodds nuik stay a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 351.
Mr. Archibald Douglas that stayed as leiger in England 1641 Anal. Scot. I 128.
Both befor her mariadge with John Binnie and after, stayed most part of her lyfe with me in a laigh house of myne in Edinburgh 1645 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXX 146.
I built ane ludge for them and maid them to stay in it sax weikis c1650 Spalding I 41.
The King … stayit that nicht in Seytoun 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 9 Oct.
She came once to see his house befor she came to stay for lying in 1692 Pitcairn Assembly v iii (1817) 94.
Mr. Orthodox … who stays on the east side of Tay 1694 Kingarth Par. Rec. 177.
He went the length of Askoge in the afternoon and stayed there till Munday morning

c. To dwell on (a subject). a1650 Row 422.
Being inquyred why he stayed so much on those things

d. To stick to (one's plans). 1631 Sel. Biog. I 367.
I will not get haim till Thursday; it wexis me that I suld staye a daye behind my lady bot since I have wreittin to Mr. David, I must staye by my dyet

e. Const. various adverbs. c1590 Fowler I 166/5.
O Phebus lenght thy light, stey not behind 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 16.
The Mr. of Ogilvy … bleetly stayed at behind … I, as give I had bein a person interested thrust into the wery first rank 1691 Kingarth Par. Rec. 157.
Who comes to church or who stays away throw lasines

8. To wait (for, (up)on, till (quhill)) a person, event, time, etc. b. tr. To await (a person).The Dalr. example may belong in 7 above.(1) 1596 Dalr. I 267/13.
Athelstane followet in haste, evin vnto Haddingtoun. Hung stayis, intending the neist day, with courage to meit thame 1600 Crim. Trials II 173.
Alwayes stay, my lord Duik, and I sall gang vp and get your lordschip the veritie … thairof(2) 1622-6 Bisset I 101/18.
That in executioun heirof ane sall nocht stay for ane uthir ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 21.
With much adoe … he gott within the Councell house doore, wher Sir William Elphinston stayd for him(3) 1562 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 26.
Some ministeris come ouer lait to the kirkis … so that the peopill doe wearie staying upon thaim 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 78.
Gif y sowld stay owpone the seill y war ebell to tayn the schip and withowt ane testafeicaseione y cannot get away 1603 Moysie 27.
The king sent the lyk ambassadour with the lyk letter … to the queine, and he stayed vpon ansuer 1610 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 108/13, 5.
Hary Freeland and his company went in … and the deponer and Alexander Blair stayed vpoun thame … quhill thay come oute 1617 Old Ross-shire I 32.
I have stayid lang on your promise(4) 16.. Hist. Kennedy 29.
Thinking that the laird … wald cum efter him, he stayitt … one ane muir … behind ane know quhill that he saw him cuming 1635 Dickson Wr. 3.
As if gold should essay to loup out of the melting cruise … and not stay till it be melted 1667 Laing MSS 363.
I have stayied till the packiet is cum in expecktasione to have heard of the peas 1669 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 449.
We … judged it fitt to stey till Weddensday next past that we may know ther methodsb. 1680 Red Bk. Menteith II 179.
I hav not styet your servant bot till this day at nyn houres