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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Wif(e, Wyf(e, n. Also: wiff(e, vif(e, viff(e, wyff(e, vyf(f)(e, uyfe, wive, wyve, wywe, wijf, wief, wyif(f, wyef(f, vyif(f, wef, weife, veif(e, veiff, waif, wayf, wayf(f)e, uayff. Pl. and possess. wif(f)is, wy(i)f(f)is, wyffeis, etc.; wyvis, vyvis, -ys, -es, wywys, wives, etc.; also vyfues. [ME and e.m.E. wif (a1175), wiue (Layamon), wijf (Cursor M.), wyf (Piers Plowman), wyue (Chaucer), wyefe (?a1400), wife, wiff (both 1485); pl. wifes (a1175), wiues (coll. wiue) (both Cursor M.), wyues (Chaucer), wyfes (c1460), OE wíf, LG wief, Du. wijf, ON víf.]

1. A woman. Also proverb. 1375 Barb. iv 302 (C).
The vif confusit wes a1400 Leg. S. iii 223.
Wyf ?1438 Alex. ii 1486.
Thair sall nane that is borne of wyfe Call me flear c1420 Wynt. vi 2235 (C).
Wiff c1475 Wall. xi 399.
Thinkis thow no schaym for to turment a wyff? 1504 Treas. Acc. II 439.
To ane wif brocht stray beryis to the king, ix s. 1531 Reg. Soltre 105.
The said provest sall giff the forsaid vif … four bollis of wictuall to helpe hir sustentacioun as shou mistaris 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 146.
Scho sal haif … the lytill hous inhabeit be Coultart the vyf 1567 G. Ball. 217.
Heliogabalus Quhais lyfe in lust was spent … Defyling maide and wyfe 1570 Sat. P. xiii 115.
Ane febill campioun Ane wyfe with childe that manfully can slay 1612–23 Mill Mediæv. Plays 207.
To ane wyiff for sum glasis the officiaris tuikpl. 1375 Barb. xv 560.
Quhen wiwys [C. wiffis] wald childer ban Thai wald … Betech thaim to the blak Douglas 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 97.
I ken foure wyvis … Baldar nor I a1500 Henr. Fab. 102.
Wyfis sayis that lukand werk is licht c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 529.
Of thir thre wantoun wiffis … Quhilk wald ȝe waill to ȝour wif gif ȝe suld wed one? 1567 G. Ball. 184.
With the wyfis thay wald be At hameproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1302.
Quhair there is wyves, there are there words a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1742.
Ye are like the wife will not trow that the bannok is baken quhill sche poye on it with her finger

b. (Men), wiffis and barnys, man or wife, etc. covering the whole, or some specific, spectrum of society. Also proverb. a1400 Leg. S. xi 390.
lxx thowsande Cristyne ware … princis, kynge, & quene, Wyffis, & barnys a1400 Leg. S. xvii 38.
He vald … sla and ete al that had lyfe, Ald, ȝonge, mane & vyfe ?1438 Alex. ii 7807.
Gif euer I knew man or wyfe, He is staluart in ilka stryfe 1525 St. P. Henry VIII IV 417.
Our soverane lordis trew liegis, men, wiffis and barnys 1531 Bell. Boece II 168.
Nothir man, wife, nor page, left on live 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I 17.
That na wyfe, hussy, nor wther persoun gang amang growand stuff to scheir ony … gers 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 109.
[The minister] ressaved witnessis … of huseis, wyffis and beggaris 1669 Jus Populi 168.
The destruction of the whole land, man, wife and childeproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1522.
There was never a thing sa wae bested as fuiles wyfe and bairnis

c. Qualified or particularised, as, auld, pur, of Edinburgh, etc., also grace wyff, ? a nickname, ? one disposed to help others (Grace n. 2). Also const. that clause describing the woman's function.See also Bysyn(e n., Gait n.¹ b, Gud(e)wife n., Hen-wyf(e n., Kale n. 3, Medwyf(e n., Ostlar(e n. 2, Wescherwyf n., Wis(e adj. 1 compar., Wis(e)wiff(e n., Wi(t)ch n. d (1).(1) 1501 Treas. Acc. II 102.
To the blind wif … xiiij s. a1508 Kynd Kittok 1 (B).
My guddame wes ane gay wyfe bot scho wes rycht gend c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 169/76.
The fische wyffis flett and swoir 1531 Bell. Boece I xv.
The barant wive Apperis young, quhen that the brudie falis a1568 Bann. MS 79b/35.
A gud hussy wyfe trubland ay the toun 1591 Digest Justiciary Proc. 8.
The gleyit wyf callit Jonet Straytoun a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 241 (see Wis(e)wiff(e n.).
Grace wyff 16… Boyd Fam. P. No. 251c (see Wescherwyf n.).
Veif 1625 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 174.
For xxix burding of fog brocht in be the fog wyffeis(2) 1456 Hay II 132/13.
All the vertues of mannis corps … worthis … feblare as ane ald wyf a1500 Colk. Sow ii 132.
I reid nocht this in story … I did it leir at ane full auld wyfe c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 117.
At ane uthir auld wyfis ingle 1619 Calderwood Solution Doctor Resolutus 45.
The old wives that knocked on their breasts, and glowred up to the bread, when Mr. Galloway delivered them the elements 1630–1 Peebles B. Rec. I 417.
To putt away ane auld wyfe with ane beird iiij s. 1692 Kingarth Par. Rec. 163.
The old wife Katrins mother(3) 1488 Treas. Acc. I 94.
To pure wyfis of Ballincrefe 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 14.
To the puir wyfe Maillis Mowe(4) 1488 Treas. Acc. I 91.
To pay the wyfis of Dunbar, iij^xx li. 1491 Treas. Acc. I 180.
Til a wyfe at Baythcat bog 1496 Treas. Acc. I 274.
To the wif of Glenfinglas [that] brocht butir to the king 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 487.
Gevin to the wifis of Edinburgh a1601 Boyd Sonet.
A wyf ingenrit of the se ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 30.
The other was a wyfe at the Neither Bow a1676 Guthry Mem. (1748) 109.
The wives of Edinburgh, whose help to the cause was always ready(5) 1456 Misc. Bann. C. III 99.
To the wif at kepis me, v s. 1501 Treas. Acc. II 45.
To the wif that helpis to keep the barne

d. possess.e. attrib.Wif carll, a weak or womanish man.d. c1460 Consail Vys Man 84.
Of nakyne personne Ill thow spek Fore that is bot a vyvys vrek 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1937.
For schame be na cowart … thow hes ane wyifes hart 1558-66 Knox I 170.
My doctrine was no wyffes fablese. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 351.
I maid that wif carll to werk all womenis werkis

2. A wife, a married woman, chiefly const. possess. of the man to whom she is married, also, rarely, without inflection. Also proverb.Also const. def. or indef. art. or without art.; in collocation with her own Christian name; Gud(e)man n. 3, Husband n. 4 or Man n. 1 or 2; barnis (Barne n.), Dochter n., etc.; variously qualified, as by first, handfast, mareit, etc.; also possess.See also Burges wyf(e n. and Gud(e)wife n.(1) 1338 Liber Dryburgh 263.
Burgagium Emme Kenilis wife 1391 Red Bk. Menteith I 160.
The half of the fornemmyt erldome … perteignys to my wyfe of richt of heretage c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2366.
Wyf c1420 Wynt. iii 182.
Wyff 1456 Hay I 63/28.
The lady his wyf 1465 Liber Dryburgh 278.
The said William his wiffe thar assignais or subtenandis a1500 Henr. Fab. 1830.
His wyfe it span, and twynit it in to threid 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 327.
Vife a1538 Abell 92a.
Sum maikis bot a boynd of thare wife … thotht sche suld be his fallo 1562 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 19 Dec.
Wille Bell and his wyif confessit in iugement [etc.] 1575 Edinb. Test. III 258.
My wyf … to be administratoris to my sone and intromettour with his leving c1575 Balfour Pract. 366.
Ane instrument of sasine grantit to ony man … is not sufficient probatioun that his wife was saisit in the samin landis, gif … na special mentioun was maid of saisine gevin to the wife 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 11.
Sir Colene be vertew of his vyff … fell to the haill superioritie of the lordschip of Lorne 1642 Sc. N. & Q. XII 60 (see (2) below).
Viffe(b) 1535 Stewart 30956.
This Hungus sister wes Achayus wywe(c) 1570 Leslie 166.
That the Quene his wief wes deliverit of ane maden barne 1558-66 Knox II 314.
It wilbe said that your wyeff hath changed your nature 1583 A. Hay Nobility 31.
Wyef(d) 1584 Waus Corr. 290.
Waif 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 73.
Wayf 1669–81 Haddington Corr. 194.
I reseuid … yours this morning … your uayffs to hir mother uas full of uerie rasionall grounds of aprehension … I will not trubell my doghtier at this taym, for I knou my wayffe hespl. 1533 Boece 87a.
The myserabill moderis and wyiffis of thame quhilkis the violent seyis had swellyit 1551 Hamilton Cat. 103.
I … sall stryk yow with the sweird, and your wyfis salbe wedowis 1580 Cath. Tr. 58/21.
Ane of Jacobs vyfues(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxviii 46.
Riche be thy merchauntis … Fair be their wives, right lovesom, white and smalluninfl. 1563 Cal. Sc. P. II 75.
Our secretaree wyf is dead 1575–6 St. A. Kirk S. 414.
Mariorye Smytht, spous of Johne Pa … the said Pa wyffe 1575–6 St. A. Kirk S. 415.
Sche was present in Grub hows quhen his wyffe [etc.] … and eftir sche had askit at Grub wyffe [etc.] … Pa wyffe said [etc.] … and … sche could not see quhat Payis wyffe did to Grub wyffe and forthir … Robert Grub yeid for Pa wyffe and compellit [hir] to cum and vesy Grub wyffe(2) a1400 Leg. S. vi 445.
Vyfe a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 40.
Elizabeth, his wyf 1395 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 4.
Crystyane the Menȝeris the wyfe of the for sayd Jonys c1420 Wynt. ii 469.
Hys wyff Pyrra 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 114.
The sayd Dic Gybsoun and Jonet hys wyf … has ressyngit … the for both in the sayd balye hand 1474 Reg. Cupar A. I 215.
Ws … til haf grantit … til … Wilȝame Clerk … and Agnes his wyve, conjunctly 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 4.
Maid burges be resone of his wyff Elspetht Mawer 1576 Exch. R. XX 372.
His vyiff callit Elezebatht Lewingstoun 1652 Cullen Kirk S. 22 Aug.
Janet Lorimer wiff to Thomas Willsone(b) 1528 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I 89.
Be the consent of James Rankyn and Jonat Wylsoun, his wef, possessouris of the sammyn(c) 1617 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 77.
Madam la Marechele, his veife 1642 Sc. N. & Q. XII 60.
Eufam Steill, veiff to Robert Turpe, ordenit to mak her repentance … for flyting, … and abusing of ane gentelman's viffe(3) c1420 Wynt. vii 609.
Lemman had he nane, na wyff c1475 Wall. i 163.
Both wiffis, wedowis, thai tuk … Nonnys, madyns [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 103/17.
The wyff that wald him kuckald mak c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. vii 27.
Thou art bundin to a wif, will thou nocht seek vnbinding; thou art vnbundin fra a wijf [W. wyf, P. wijf] will thou nocht seek a wijf 1533 Bell. Livy II 106/18.
The effrayit moderis and wyiffis forȝett all womanly behavingis for vehement joy 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 132.
Being mariit and conioinit with ane wyfe 1574 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 61.
That na maister quha is nocht cled witht ane wife, sall … tak ane prenteis 1587 Carmichael Etym. 12.
Socer, the wifs father 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 184.
She wes wyfe to the said George Smithproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 152.
A ill wyf ane ill lyf a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 28.
A blak wif wil mak gude kaill(4) a1400 Leg. S. x 353.
That vomane suld luf hire husband Atoure al, & he his vyfe 14.. Acts I 300/3.
Gif the wif of a fre man be slayn hyr husband sal haf the kelchyn 1456 Hay I 190/11.
The injure that is done to the wyf is pertenand till hir husband and he salbe for hir part herd in jugement c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 14.
The dewtye of menn towart thair wiffis 15.. Wyf Awcht. 48.
The gudman rais eftir syne And saw the wyf had done command 1567 Sat. P. vii 61.
The Quene is cuplit with ane wyffis husband 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 216.
Ane hoastlare … who … had murthered sundrie that come to ludge with him the wyfe beand also als bussie as the man 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Feodum.
The husband and the wife ar infeft in certaine landes 1610 Brechin Test. II 87.
The dewtifull lowe & fauour scho bearis Towardis him as ane vyiff to hir husbandpl. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 42.
Bewrie, said the wedo, ȝe woddit wemen ȝing, Quhat mirth ȝe fand in maryage sen ȝe war menis wyffis 1569–70 Peebles B. Rec. I 325.
Quhatsumeuery personis, wemen, mennis wiffis, or vtheris persones … that is found flytand c1590 Fowler II 53/8.
The wemen requyrit that the mens names micht bene callit vpon them … that thay micht be called the wiffes of an man, & namit efter thair husbands 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 419.
The desolation of sindrie families, be insolent rinning auay of wyfis fra thair husbands(5) 1375 Barb. i 199.
Schyrreffys … maid he … off Inglis nation … That Scottis-men mycht do na thing … Thar wyffis wald thai oft forly And thar dochtrys 1375 Barb. xii 246.
We for our lyvis And for our childer & for our wywis [C. vifis] And for our fredome … in-to bataill for to stand 1456 Hay I 146/6.
As gif a man of armes … askis leve … to pas hame to his wyf and his barnis 1456–7 Acts II 49/2.
At thaj mak thar wifis and dochteris … be abeilȝeit … corespondande for thar estate 1516–17 Fife Sheriff Ct. 58.
Johne Browne forsaid his wyff barnis and seruandis sal be harmeles 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 327.
Wyiff 1535 Stewart 25566.
Wyffe 1533 Gau 10/9.
Thair wiffis douchters and to oder kinnis vemen 1614 Aberd. Council Lett. I 122.
The skipper and the companie … ar now indwellaris in this our burgh with thair wiffis and famelies 1681 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XXXVIII 163.
Present my respects to your kynde spouse and Mr. Gray, and shou to him that his weife and familie is in ther ordinar helth 1685 Dunlop P. III 17.
His love remembred to his wief son [etc.] … and all his frinds(6) 1467–8 Aberd. B. Rec. I 28.
The dochtir of the fyrst wyff clamande the said lande as air thairto a1500 Seven S. 122.
A ȝoung wyf 1500 Acta Conc. II 412.
The sade James of Hammyltone of Torrens and his secund wiffe [pr. wiffis] … the sade James of Hammyltone elder and til his wiffe that now is 1530–1 Glasgow Prot. IV 35.
[James Walker and Janet Hammylton] his handfast wyf 1531 Bell. Boece II 449.
To annere to hir as his lawchful lady and wiffe 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 113.
Johan [Forret] … had promesed … to marye Elizabeth Autherlonye … and efter the samyn promys maid, had carnall dayll wyth the said Elizabeth Autherlo[ny], and intreated hyr as his lawfull wyff in bed and burd 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 115.
[They] levyt in mutuall cohabitacion … sche as his maried wyff and he as hyr undowted howsband 1562–3 Rec. Earld. Orkney 114.
His last wyf, Janote Skaye a1568 Scott iv 37.
Mareit wyvis 1568 Buch. Indict. 46.
Vyif 1657 Inverurie 319.
Ritchie … thretned to straick his new married wyfe(7) 1391 Red Bk. Menteith I 160.
My wyvis richt a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 62.
Half the riches that he has Sall scant be worth his viffis clas 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxxii.
Dwrine his first wyues tyme, he did caws build the hows of Panmore 1644 Douglas Corr. 252 n.
My wayfes haiknay horse

b. Const. (to, for, etc.) (one's) wyfe, (as) wyf, etc. with verbs of taking, marrying, giving, etc. and the verb to be, expressing the action of marrying or being married to a woman.(1) 1375 Barb. xvii 29 (C).
Quhais cosyne He had weddit on-till his viff a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 937.
The kingis cusing to wif he tuke 1391 Lennox Mun. 43.
That Schir Murthow, … sal haue to wife Isabel 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 34.
Jorge … lord of Angus sall led in to wyfe a dochtyr of ovre lorde the kyngys c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2704.
He … maryed hir & held for wyve ?1438 Alex. ii 11023.
Now hes he weddit Fezonas To wyfe 1415–16 (1430) Reg. Great S. 39/1.
Huchon Fraser … sal lede in to wyf Jonet of Fentoun 1423 Wemyss Chart. II 47.
Ane honorable woman, Dame Crystyane of Douglas, … the quhilk I think … to lede into wiffe 1463–4 Cal. Charters Suppl. 22 March.
That Johne Lindesay … sal God willing mary and hafe to wiff Margaret Skot 1506 Lennox Mun. 178.
Vyffe 1513 Doug. vii i 66.
Full mony … Axit hir to wyf 1513 Doug. vii vii 61 (Sm.).
Bot he thé grant to wyf his child Lavine 1560 Carte Northberwic 77.
The said George sall tak the said Jonet … to vyffe(2) a1400 Leg. S. ii 821, 823.
He as wyff wald wedit be Wmquhill to man, and quhyll walde he Tak hym a man in sted of wyff c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 178.
He has bene waistit apone wemen or he me wif chesit(3) c1420 Ratis R. 925.
To consail thé a vyf to take 1549 Compl. 24/15.
Thou sal spouse ane vyfe c1500–50 Brevis Cronica 321.
The Pichtis come … to Ireland … and the Scottis gave thame wyffis, of thair childer and douchteris 1596 Dalr. I 87/27.
Thay requyre the Scottis of frindschip and affinitie, desyreng to haue wyfes of thame 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 121/4.
In youre mariing of a godlie … uyfe for she man be neirer unto you then [etc.] 1631 Justiciary Cases I 164.
The actis of parliament … maid aganis the mareing of tua leving wyfes(4) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2586.
Thetis … That was to king Peleus wyve c1420 Wynt. i 195.
Tyll hym alane wes wywys twa c1420 Wynt. iii 529.
His dowchtyr Inogen He gave hym als to be hys wywe

c. specif.Of churchmen. Also proverb.The relationship is not always entirely clear, see, for instance, in relation to Abbot Crinan in the Wynt. quot., A. A. M. Duncan Scotland, the Making of the Kingdom (The Edinburgh History of Scotland, vol. 1, 1975) p. 99 ‘One of his [sc. Malcolm II’s] daughters Bethoc was married to Crinan, Abbot of Dunkeld, possibly a laicised office.' In the post-Reformation church marriage was legalised. c1420 Wynt. vi 884.
Bethok … wes to Cryny in hyre lyffe The abbot of Dunkeldynys wyffe [C. wiff, W. wif] To bere wytnes ar thir wers … Abbatis Cryni … Uxor erat Bethok 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1944.
Kirkmen war ay gentill to thair wyifis 1558-66 Knox I 9.
That preastis mycht have wieffis a1578 Pitsc. II 133/3.
That it is aganes the lawis of haly kirk that thow souldest be ane preist and marie ane wyff 1581 Burne Disput. 105b.
The quæstione vas … gif thay quha var mareit befoir thay var preistis suld remane vith thair vyffis … the hail Concile of Nice decernit, that thay sould abstene fra thair vyues 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 170/29.
Vsurpit bischopis … professis … pluralitie of harlattis, falslie callit vyuisproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 971.
It is a sair lyfe to be lang a maidin and syne a preists wyfe

d. transf.The mate of a male fowl. 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 159.
Phebus red fowle … Hys wifis, Toppa and Partelot, hym by As byrd al tyme that hantis bigamy