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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

We(y, Wy, Wech(t, v. Also: weye, wei, weay, vey(e, ve, wye, wie, vy(e, way(e, waie, wey(g)h, weigh(e, weyet, weicht, weycht, we(y)ght, weight, veycht, veight, wi(e)ght, weif, veiff. [ME and e.m.E. weie(n (a1200), weȝe(n (Layamon), waye(n (a1300), weghe (Rolle), weye(n (Piers Plowman), wye (?a1400), weigh (1557), OE weᵹan, MDu., MLG wegen, ON vega. The forms in -cht, -ght, -et are no doubt influenced by Wecht n.¹]

1. intr.Of an object or substance: To have a certain amount of heaviness, to weigh so much. b. absol.To weigh (heavily). c. Of (a unit of) weight: To contain a certain amount of value (in terms of other units of weight or value).pres. c1420 Bute MS 167a.
The past of the halpeny wastel … sal wey sex markys & iiii s. … the symnel laf … sal wey les na the wastel … the alsamyn brede sal wey a quhachet & ane half [etc.] 1425 Acts II 12/1.
Thris new boll … weyis mare than the auld boll be xli lib. 1453 Bishop Kennedy's Will in Sc. Eccles. Soc. 219.
A futit eucaryste weyand ten owns 1454 Coll. St. Salvator 160 n.
Twa crowatis that weis ten owns and thre quarteris a1500 Henr. Fab. 2356.
Ȝe sall ane cabok haue … He sayis it weyis ane stane and sumdeill mair 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxxiv.
A grete chimna weyand xij stane of irne 1501 Acta Conc. III 20.
Ane gold ryng weyand thre unicorns 1529 Reg. Great S. 177/2.
Ane silver spune and a masar veand 3 uncis 1532 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 127.
The penny breid to veiff ane pond vycht 1560 Treas. Acc. XI 20.
Ane caulderone … weiand ii stane xij li. 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 15 Feb.
Tuo rolls of good and sufficient tobacco weying both tuentie six pounds fyve unce(b) 1497 Halyb. 156.
His syngnet wyis an ons 1550–1 Dundee B. Ct. II 30 (19 Jan.).
The … baillies hes gevine to the baxtaris thare pase of the foure penny breid to vye xviij vnce for … xv dayes & to mend as the merkat becummis bettir chaips 1594 Edinb. Test. XXVI 370a.
Half ane last lynt wyand lxvj stane wecht 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 25 Sept.
Wyand 1643 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 18.
Raixes and ane speit vyand thrie steane and ane halff 1676 Conv. Burghs III 667.
Wieing(c) a1578 Pitsc. II 190/29.
Ane funt wayand thrie hundreith xxxiij vnces(d) 1647 Edinb. Test. LXIII 155a.
Wolline ȝairne wechtand twintie four pund wecht 1651 Aberd. Council Lett. III 188.
The fourt barrell of pulder wighting four scoir pund 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 195.
Ane handsome cup of siluer, wechand tuentie fyve unces 1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X 26.
For eatch ball of mether weighting ane thousand pund weight ten shilling 1676 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 294.
Weightingp.t. 1478–9 Acta Conc. I 26/2.
To … pay to the said lord Carlile … samekle as he may preife the said flakonis [etc.] … weyit & war worth 1496 Halyb. 26.
2 sekis off woyll … an veit 7^c net and tothir weyt 7^c 2 stane c1578 Maxwell Mem. I 313.
Ane [sc. chain] … he hard the defunct say weit fouretene crownis of the soneb. c1575 Balfour Pract. 583.
Quhen thay give out the claith thay mak it donk and wet … to cause it to wey 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Expendo, to wey, to spendc. 14.. Acts I 309/2.
The unce contenit in King Dauidis time xx … penijs and now it sall wey xxi penijs

2. tr.To ascertain the weight of something. Also absol.b. To weigh out (a quantity). Also in fig.context. c. To weigh (a weight or coin) for the purpose of regulating it against a standard. d. In horse-racing: To weigh a jockey before and after a race. c1420 Bute MS 170b.
Of ilk waw … viii d. gyf it be weyit be wawys and gyf it be weyit be stanys [etc.] 1478 Acta Conc. I 4/2.
The lordis … causit the chenȝe to be weyt & prisit be werkmen, quhilkis prisit it to v li. Scottis a1500 Prestis of Peblis 199 (A).
Thar bocht he woll & wysly couth it wey 1526–7 Stirling B. Rec. I 29.
That na baicht be tane out of the bakhows on to the tyme that ane of the baillies … weye the said baicht 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 186.
Maid plet irne werk … ressavit and weyit fra William Hyll 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I 199.
That thai vey and vryt the quantite thairof [sc. iron] 1557–8 Inverness Rec. I 19.
Ane stane of yarne, quhilk wes weyt with Elspet Morison stane 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 295.
The timber … wes sauld to be fyre, and wyit in the tolbuith of Edinburgh xij pence the stane 1576 Orkney Oppress. 36.
Wie 1579 Digest Justiciary Proc. I 93.
The quhilk bissemer that the saidis hardeittis wes weyit on 1584 Gowrie P. 79.
[The Treasurer] weighed at one tyme 10000 li. reserved to the kinges owne use 1640 Elgin Rec. I 268.
The magistrattis to go throch the toun and weycht the siluer work 1646–7 Falkirk Par. Rec. I 143.
Wechted 1674 Inverness Rec. II 259.
The thesaurer … to sie the bell weyed, and to keip ane not of the weicht of it 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 336.
Seaverall … persones in Edinburgh … does wey liquores [etc.] … in privat cellers to the prejudice of the weyhoussesabsol. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 60 (B).
Ilk burges may haf … mesuris to mesure his corne and elnwand and stane & wecht to wey 14.. Acts I 387/2.
The mesure of the balk that men weyis with sal be in lynth an elneb. 1576 Orkney Oppress. 16.
The lawrichtman … mesurit oure dewitie, callit wadmell, and weyit our dewitie of buttirfig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 149/103.
Thocht I hald him evinlie the ballance And but ane cuir full micht till him wey Ȝett will he tak ane uther and gar it sueyc. 1662 Peebles B. Rec. II 52.
John Murray, wright, to make weying stone weychtes … the saids stones being first … weichted be the custome stone or tounes stand 1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 450.
The … merk peices … to be troned, weighted and justedd. 1670 Lauder Notices Affairs I 9.
They offered them to prove that being wieghted at the louping on [etc.] … he was lighter when he leipt of then when he began … and this tho the same was proven by the judges … appointed for wying them … that they do not wy them at their leaping of

3. fig.To evaluate (a person or thing) as on scales or with reference to some standard of judgment. b. specif.With reference to the movement of the beam of a balance, chiefly const. vpe or downe. c. Of the law or justice, const. elik, equale: To apply (justice) evenhandedly. c1420 Ratis R. 1185.
The first movar … with a balance baith haldis hee, To wey baith caus and qualytee, As gud dissert wyll thar-to lay Or trespas wyll tak away 1513 Doug. Comm. i v 28.
Wey the excellent awtorite of Virgill … wyth … corrupt Gwido 1551 Hamilton Cat. 103.
Thow art weyit in a ballance, and thow art funde to want wecht a1561 Norvell Meroure 6a.
Yet weyed thou not, the burden of thy vice a1568 Bann. MS 132a/9.
I sall wey bath in ane ballance 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 88.
I will not wey thame be the commoun beame 1596 Dalr. I 296/28.
Nather walde I that ȝour serenitie weyet … my loue … with the price of this gift, artificiousnes … bot that ȝe walde mesour with my luue the price of this gift 1646 Glasgow B. Rec. II 103.
Appealling [to] the justice of the parliament and intreating that no interest … weight the suplicants before the treuth and justice of their cause be fullie understood 1641 Spalding II 15.
If yow wey and measure them [sc. ministers of state] by granes and scruples, the publict effaires of the kingdome wilbe then laid waistb. a1400 Leg. S. xxii 750.
A gret pot … in that balance has he [it] done Thane ourys veyt vpe rycht [pr. tycht] sone a1585 Maitl. Q. 233/17.
Blind boy thou dois so beir My fortoun in ballance [etc.] … As in the wind I wie Ay wauering with the wechtis [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 192/13.
Iff they be light, downe wey thame with a kis c1590 Fowler I 383/171.
His cursinges weighe me downe to hell 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 48.
[France and Spain] … the 2 axletrees or poles on which the microcosme of Europe turnes. Its theirfor … in the concernement of the rest of Europe to hold their 2 poles at a even balance lest the one chancing at lenth to wieght doune the other [etc.]c. c1500 Barounis Lawis 10b.
Quha sa euir is a rycht iuge he suld haif ane ballance in his hand & wey the law evin elik till euir ilk man a1568 Scott i 29.
Waye iustice, equale without discrepance

4. fig.To value (something), chiefly const. hevyly, litill, in paragon, etc., to estimate (a thing) at the valuation expressed in the adverbial.(1) 1533 Boece 68a.
Gif we wey oure liberte [etc.] … lat ws propone before ws owder dede or ellis victorie(2) 1513 Doug. ii ii 60.
Dolorus my lyfe I led … Hevyly weyand my innocent frende thus slane 1533 Boece 42a.
Scottis weying this dispite maist hevily … devisit to be revengit 1535 Stewart 52858.
And his command with him richt litill weyit a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvii 29.
Lat thir [sc. faults] be wyit allyk till every leid 1581 Sempill in Sat. P. xliii 99.
His valiant workes was weyit bot litill worth 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 761.
He weyit the mater litle How mony messis there was done, Sa he were packed weill at none 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 143.
I preferred nor wyed neiuer in paragon onye thing with yiour heighness plesour

b. Of a difficult or unhappy experience, etc.: To have an adverse affect upon, to depress, weigh down (a person, his feelings, health, etc.); to weigh on (a person's mind). 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 233.
I have sadness to ballast me, and weight me a little 1647 Baillie III 3.
I had been ever silent in all their [sc. the Assembly's] debates, and however this silence sometimes weighted my mind, yet I found it the best and wisest course 1651 Johnston Diary II 57.
M. Douglas was much weyghted, and professed that the new penitents many of them continewed still malignants 1654 Johnston Diary II 230.
My daughter … had found under hir seaknesse a deserted condition and now shoe was weyghted with it 1654 Laing MSS 295.
Our brethrens letter … did some vhat veight me 1656 Dunkeld Presb. II 30.
[The presbytery of St. Andrews] being much weighted that many brethren were oft absent [etc.] 1697 Inverness Kirk S. 54.
Marie McCowll … stood her severall Lords dayes … but the Session seeing the said Marie not to be weighted enough for her sin, appointed George Duncan [etc.] … to deall … with her, to see whether or not she may be brought to sense off her sin and guilt

5. fig.To consider, evaluate (evidence, a matter, etc.), to take into account (facts, circumstances); to ascertain (the truth). b. Const. clause object. c. specif. To wey (one's) words, to consider what one says. d. To wey wordis to (someone), to explain (their) value or import to (another). 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
[Having] discussit & weyt al euidentis 1456 Hay II 147/33.
Cast all thair counsailis ilkane till othir in thy mynde, and wey thame as thou thinkis the caus requeris a1500 Henr. Hasty Credence 9.
Ane worthy lord sowld wey [Maitl. weye] ane taill wyslie 1528 Douglas Corr. 130.
Be our consideratioune na thing may be perfitliar done, nor the mater mair profundlie wayit 1550 Knox III 33.
Heir thai wer present … to ponder and wey the causis 1551–2 Acts II 485/2.
Pure folkis … to pay the pane … wemen to be weyit and considderit conforme to thair blude or estate 1559 Knox VI 23.
Weygh a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 125/25.
Quhen the mervalous verkis of our Saluiour can nocht be comprehendit in thame seluis than ar tha to be considderit and wyit be ane other of his vorkis more mervalouse 1562-3 Winȝet I 51/3.
Fra I mair deiply consyderit and weyit the hiech arrogance of men of sa law degre 1563 Cal. Sc. P. II 21.
I must confess it was not at all times so weyed as I think the wecht off the caus did requyre a1568 Scott xi 49.
Wey weill thir versis 1558-66 Knox I 278.
Weay 1573 Crail B. Ct. 21 Oct.
Ryplie, diligentlie and exactlie weyit, tryit and considderit 1580 Cath. Tr. 70/7.
Wye a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 402 (L).
Wysdome biddis thé wyslie way The sentence of phelosophie 1585 James VI Ess. 51.
Yet if we like the veritie to wye, It pairs him nothing 1589 Crim. Trials I ii 177.
Hoping alwyis that his Maiestie will wie the circumstances of his accusatioun 1596 Dalr. II 187/28.
Reuolfe this mater in ȝour mynd, and wey the waicht of it grauelier 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 16/16.
Waie 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 222.
Weyhing 1633 Inverness Rec. II 173.
Quhilk beinge reid, vyit, and considerit, the saidis persones … ar … declarit to haif doin vrange 1643 Glasgow B. Rec. II 65.
Weghtit a1651 Calderwood II 552.
Weyghedb. a1500 Seven S. 2034.
That thai begylit thé … I wey fer maire than all my weit 1561 Acts II 607/2.
Ryplie and digestlie wey and considder quhat necessar support is requirit c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 309.
Now falls it weill to vs to wey … Quhat wes the cause 1587 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 709.
To wey if James Gibsone had not [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 328/29.
With him selfe he weyis, that na true vertue war able to hurt the body sa mekle as [etc.] 1600 Crim. Trials II 116.
It is also gritlie to be weit, that this slauchter procedit nocht vpoune ony lang precogitat malice, bot vpoun ane quarrell 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 85.
Thow weyes not well what bounds thow dost possesse 1654 Inverness Rec. II 209.
Whidder the debaittes betwixt toune and parroche wold be submitted to newtrall friendis it is wes weitc. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1164 (Wr.).
Then Hope replyde … And wisely weigh'd his wordsd. a1599 Rollock Wks. I 396.
Now, brethren, thair is sum wordis that I mon wey to ȝou … and I sall repeat them and mark ȝe with mee gif they be not wechtie

6. fig.intr.To pay heed vnto; to defer to. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 120.
That myn effectis grete Vnto the quhich ȝe aughten [pr. aught and] maist weye 1456 Hay I 157/1.
Suppos thai have na soverane to quham thai wey

7. tr.a. To raise (an object) from under the sea. b. specif.To raise a ship's anchor(s), chiefly as a preliminary to a voyage. Also absol. Also in fig. context. c. To heave, lift off (a grappling iron) from a ship.a. 1460 Hay Alex. 15867.
He … ordand ane chalmer … sa clere it had … sicht Wnder the wattir … couplit … to schippis in the sey And … gart synk it … And quhen he doun vnder the wattir was Foure schip rade on ankir on the place Quhilk ilkane had ane capill him to wey To draw him the thrid day of the seyb. 1492 Acta Conc. I 245/1.
A schip … skorit in the port … of … Ely … be the occasioun & causing of the saidis … personis & compelling of the saidis Wegeantis servitouris to wey ther ankeris [etc.] 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 331.
To the botismen … to wey the ankir, j Franch croun 1533 Boece 35b.
Thay weyit ankeris and mad sale 1535 Stewart 11223.
Julius hes gevin thame command To wey anker c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 213.
Thay weyit thair ankeris, and maid saill 1561 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 205.
That thai the said viage weyit certane anchouris pertenyng to Inglismen than being in the said sey … for the quhilk … thair capitane promittit to thaim … xx crownis … he … declarit … the promis maid for weying of the anchouris nocht to be of veratie c1590 Fowler II 194/25.
She [sc. the ship] wayed anchor, made saile [etc.] 1613 Soc. Ant. X 223.
For the men in Kinghorne … that weyit the ankir xx iiij s.absol. 1549 Compl. 40/13.
The maister … bald the marynalis lay the cabil to the cabilstok, to veynde and veye a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 169.
We weyde fra thyn, and peyde our anchor custumfig. a1568 Bann. MS 210b/7.
Som rakles roig may hasard hir to ryde And namlie at ane anker in the night Bot quhen ȝe wey rekin wele ȝour tydc. c1475 Wall. x 874.
He wald haiff beyn away Bad wynd the saill in all the haist thai may Bot fra the Scottis thai mycht nocht than off skey, The clyp so sar on athir burd thai wey

8. comb.With Balk n. 3, Brod n.² 1, Gilt n.³, guidis (Gud(e n. 6). See also Weyhous n.(1) 1522 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 209.
Ane wey bauk, ane pair of ballancis, ane middill bauk and ballancis ane full trois pund [etc.] 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 144.
Ane veiff baux vith the veychtis 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II 275.
For ane wey balk to the ovir trone, xxxvj s. 1571–2 Canongate Ct. Bk. 357.
Ane wey baik and broddis 1590 St. A. B. Ct. 8 April.
Ane wye bawk with haill mercheand wechtis … belanging thairto 1603 Edinb. B. Rec. V 320.
To bring hame to the touns use twa weye balks of steill … for weying publictlie of lynt, irne and gros wayres 1608 Mining Rec. 150.
Ane grit weybak with the balance brodis thereto for weying the ore xx li. 1655 Peebles B. Rec. II 33.
Alexander Lauder, toun thesaurer, to provyde ane commoun laidill and weycht back to the customer for the tounes use 1658 Boyd Fam. P. No. 236 (27 Feb.).
A weifbalk and tua bredis(2) 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 255.
Ane pair of wey broddis garnist with yron for weying of mettall with thair towis 1596 Oldcambus Acc. 19.
Tuo we brodis and the wecht stanis maid with the stand in Dumbar … j lib. x s. 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I 114b.
Aucht fadome of towis to the wey brodis that weyis the mettell 1611 St. A. Baxter Bks. 76.
For vrang … done be him to the deakin and cuttyng his veycht brod streingis 1698 Dumfries Doc. Petition No. 143.
Weighing of meall apon weighbrods hinging on cliks nailled to the small geists above the mealmercat(3) 1497 Halyb. 74.
Veygylt, 4 g. 1500 Halyb. 226.
Hous hyr and maclarte and weygilt, ilk sek iij s. iiij g. 1553 Dundee B. Ct. II 253 (6 Oct.).
Na freman … by ony weyable geir fra vnfremen but that the weymaister have knawlege & payment of the samyn vnder the pane of viij s. to the baillies & dowble weygilt to the veymaister(4) 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 211.
Irne, lynt, or hemp, or ony wey guidis