Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

(Wise woman,) Wis-, Wyse woman, n. Pl. wyse wemen. [ME and e.m.E. wise womman (Wyclif), wise woman (1552).] a. A cunning, clever, sharp-witted woman. b. A woman skilled in the art of witchcraft. —a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 294.
As wis woman [M. wyse woman] ay I wrought and not as wod fule For mar with wylis I wan na wichtnes of handis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 451 (M).
Wyse wemen [C. wisemen] hes wayis and wounderfull gydingis With greit ingyne to begaik thair ielyous husbandis —b. 1597 Crim. Trials II 25.
Thomas Gothray addressit him selff to the said Cristian as ane wyse woman, haifing knaulege in the foirsaid airt [sc. witchcraft] 1650 Brechin Presb. 38.
She confessed … that ane wyse woman called Marat Gold … frequented to her house, and the said Catharin, being asked if shee knew of any persons who wer wyse folk, answered that John Young … was also one of these wyse folk