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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
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Quhais, Quhas(e, pron. Also: quhaise, qwhais, qhwais, quhay(i)s, qwhays, qhways, qhays, whais(e, vhais; qwas, whas(e; quhaes, quhae's; quhawys, quhals. [North. ME quas (Cursor M.), was, midl. and south. wos, hos, whos etc. (see Quhois), also huas (Ayenbite), was (R. Glouc.), appar. with unlengthened vowel (see below), early hwas, hwos, hwes, OE hwæs gen. of interrog. prons. hwá Quha, hwæt Quhat.ME hwa:s, hwǫ:s, which underlies the regular ME and Older Sc. forms, is appar. by alteration of early hwăs to conform with hwa:, hwǫ:, Quha pron., Quho pron.] Whose, of whom the; the possess. or the subjective genitive, or, sense 7, the objective genitive, of Quha, functioning also as definite determiner of the qualified noun. Chiefly with personal reference or personal antecedent, but see senses 6 and 7.

1. interrog. In a. direct, b. indirect, and c. rhetorical, questions.a. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8792.
Quhais sone ar ȝe, tell me but circumstance?b. (1) 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
The said lordis … sal … ger try in qwhais deffaut [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii 4289.
Qwhen men askyt qwhays men thai were Ib. 3233. 1424 Acts II 4/1.
Inquyre … quhat landis … pertenys to the king … and in quhais handis thai nowe be 1480 Acta Conc. I 66/2.
Gife the said … biggin be … flyttit … & … quhais land it standis now on 1490 Irland Mir. I 26/22. 1531 Bell. Boece I 253.
Uncertane be quhayis impulsioun this procedit 1539 Misc. Spald. C. II 194. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2898. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1848.
Ye cair not quhase bairns greit and yours be stil 1629 Banff Ann. I 63.
That the officeris … trye in whais houses onye sic persones makis thair residence(2) absol. 1456 Hay I 279/15.
Men suld nocht wit quhais it warc. c1590 Fowler I 313/41.
Quhase lyflye couleurs might express, … Your graces lykwyse with my faith, And favour represent?

2. The compound relative, chiefly in indefinite, but also in definite, sense: He (him etc.) whose; whosever, whosesoever. 1397 Acts I 208/1.
The schiref that he fleis fra sal write in quhais schirefdome he is reset byddand hym … that he arrest sic a fugitiue mysdoer & [etc.] 14.. Burgh Laws c. 33 (B).
Gyf a man of a baronys or erlys or qwhais servand that he be cummys in burg [etc.] 1522 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 65.
And thar deliver the samyn in quhais handis … ane inquest … thinkis most convenient 1531 Bell. Boece I 39.
That quhais dog first bait the deir suld have [etc.] … , quhais dog bait nixt [etc.] 1567 G. Ball. 7.
Quhais sinnis ȝe forgeue, ar forgeuin vnto thame 1589 Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 280.
Quhais lampis I fynde burning prouydit with oyle thaise will I cunn thanke to 1596 Dalr. I 137/3.
Quhais hunteris hunde had first sett on the wylde deir and followed to the deith, this hundes maister sulde haue the hart his hyde Ib. II 137/2.
That quhais rents war abone fourtie libs suld pay [etc.] 1617 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 17.
[To] charge whas names are set down in their awn books

3. The simple relative in a restrictive relative clause: cf. Quha 5. a. With personal pron. antecedent.Also, once, early, quhais … sa ever: cf. Quha-sa-ever etc.(1) 1427 Wemyss Chart. 53.
And thai sal be next in the hoppyr qhways corn sa euire be thare in(2) 1450 Peebles Chart. 15.
For the saulis of al thaim qwhais bodys beis beryst in this kyrk a1568 Scott v 24.
Vpoun thair vyce war lang to waik, Quhais falsatt, fibilnes and tressone, Hes rung thryis oure this zodiak 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 6.
We quhais names ar underwrittin junes us … to the congregatioun 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 8.
To content our selues with him of whaise modestie we haue right guid experience 1596 Dalr. II 256/29.
Tha, I say, quhais bagis ar boldne ful of the kirk geir(b) a1585 Maitl. Q. xciv 5.
Quhy doe we not his glorious praise resound? Quhase goodnes we beyond our hope hes found, Quhase fauour hes surmounted our desert 1590 Welwod 67.
All thame quhas guds are saif thairby c1590 Fowler I 235/1.
Sche quhome I loued, quhase death is all my woe

b. With other antecedents.For further examples of (2), see Knawlag(e n. 3 c.(1) 14.. Acts I 107/2.
That the bailȝe in quhais bailȝerie suilk a mysdoar duellis in sal haf commandment of the iustice wythin quhais iustry the trespas wes done that he be attachyt [etc.] 1560 Inchaffray Chart. 166.
Creditouris … in quhais dett we … wer emergit 1562-3 Winȝet I 109.
Gif the harlotis, for quhais caus matrimonie is … adnullit may mary wthiris c1590 Waus Corr. 544.
Nather is thair any in this cuntrey to quhome I wald cum mair hamelie, nor of quhais goodwill I rest mair assoured c1590 Fowler II 162/19.
Italye espyes nane other in quhase wisdome … it might repose vpon for her delyverie(b) 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 365.
The scolares to quhas use the same is left(2) 1411 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 45.
Till all and syndry til quhais knawlage thir present letres sal cum … greting [etc.] 1425 Liber Melros II 544.
To qhwais knawlage 1432 Soc. Ant. II 387.
Qwhais 1469 Echt-Forbes Chart. 65.
Quhayis 1569 Facs. Nat. MSS III lix.
Quhais(b) 1435 Rep. Menzies MSS 7.
To qwas knawlegis(c) 1485 Lag Chart. 53.
To quhals knaulegis 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 549.
To quhawys knawlegis(3) 1533 Boece 64b.
To the man quhais hound first invadit the hart … suld fall the skyn 1533 Gau 40/33. 1566 Inscr. in Edinb. Castle.
Preserve the birth quhais badgie heir is borne(b) 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 3.
Quhaes(c) c1630 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 110.
[The doctor to teach] sundrie bairns in the schooll quhas parents [were] pure

4. In a descriptive relative clause: cf. Quha 6.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iv 210.
In-to the name of Criste Ihesu, Fore quhais cause I am led now, … In till His name I commawnd thé That [etc.] Ib. x 282. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 69 (A).
His wardan in quhais ȝemsall he is sal gyf ansuer for him [a minor] a1500 Henr. Fab. (O.U.P.) 1485.
Full lytill worschip haue ȝe wyn thairfoir To qwhais strenth is na comparisoun 1513 Doug. ix v 50. 1531 Bell. Boece II 155.
Fortoun, of quhais instable favoure we have sufficient documentis 1533 Gau 43/32.
For He hes owercum al that ves agane our saluatione the quhilk ar sine deid hel and the dewil throw quhais inwi deid com in the vardil 1570–1 Crim. Trials I ii 23.
In quhais handis the haill benefice of archebischoperik and rycht thairof quhatsumeuir presentlie is becuming a1578 Pitsc. I 19/1.
The chancellar … hes lost the king vndir the collour of quhais authoritie he over ran evirie man 1601 Glasgow B. Rec. I 224.
James Leischeman smyth, or his servandis in quhais smiddie the same [fire] first enterit(2) 1375 Barb. xvii 28 (E).
The marchall, quhays cosyne He had weddyt till his wiff 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 70.
O May, … Quhais [L. Quhois] hie curage … Causis [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxi 59. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 62.
[He] haldis the aigit men quhais prudence mycht haif proffit ws maist in sik captiuite that [etc.] c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 15.
To luk waraly for the cummyng of the Lord quhais lang taryinge is saluatiounn 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII 281.
To ane pure woman quhayis husband was slane in Glasqw witht ane schot of ane culvering 1562-3 Winȝet I 29/29. 1572 J. Maitland Maitl. F. lxxxviii 34.
Detractouris ay will deme ȝou, Quhais crafte is to calumpniat but caus c1590 Fowler II 20/33.
Is this rauing railing decent for an maister quhais lyfe sould be ane example of modestie & grauitie? 1622-6 Bisset I 4/27.(b) c1616 Hume Orthog. 2.
Schoolmasteres, quhae's sillie braine will reach no farther then the compas of their cap(c) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 369.
The delicat persons of Ingland, whais bodeis are geavin to quyetnes, rest and delicat feading

5. As the resumptive: cf. Quha 7.Also the quhais.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xii 5.
Sancte Mathy … Of quhais begynnyne here wil I Tel sume part the story 1448 Aberd. B. Rec. I 17.
John Stephinson is obliste … to keipe the said plegis, for quhais costis and kepyng he sal haue euery dai v schillingis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xv 3.
Quha will behald of luve the chance, … In quhais fair dissimulance May none assure Ib. xlix 30. 1513 Doug. v iii 27.
Furth steris the stern Mynestheus onan Quhilk eftir bycam a lord Italian, Of quhays ofspring … The pepill ar discend, clepyt Memny Ib. xii vii 25.
With quhais favour vmquhile strangly caucht This god Appollo gladly has [etc.] 1516 Acts XII 37/2.
For conservacioun of quhais persoun we ar determit to spend oure livis 1531 Bell. Boece I 144.
Galdus assemblit ane army … be quhais wisdome … the Romanis wer stoppit … fra ony forthir conques on the Scottis Ib. 70. Ib. II 130. Id. Bann. MS 1a/15. 1556 Black Bk. Taymouth 126.
In the feyld … of Fawsyd quhar mony … war slayne that of quhais sawlis God haw mercy 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4990.
In quhais foirheid was writin [etc.] 1558-66 Knox II 84.
Quhaise a1578 Pitsc. I 15/25. 1583–4 Burntisland B. Ct. 25 Feb.
He had warnit the defendar personalie heirto in respect of quhais non comperance the persewaris aith is tane vpoun the said clame 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 26.
Efter quhais [sc. the assise's] declaratioun the judge decernis … the said Katherene to be … cassen … in the sey(b) c1500 Brevis Cronica 323.
Congall … was crownit, in quhas tyme the battaillis began betwix [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 231.
Efter quhas depairting, the said Erle of Mortoun wes verry commovit that he haid escapit 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 85.
Throw quhase deitht(c) 1600-1610 Melvill 75.
He cam to the Englis ambassator … in whase hous … he, with manie ma, war seaff Ib. 148.
The first intelligence … I gott … was of the Bischopes bissines, a just copie of whase articles he send me hame Ib. 385.
Of whase dispositionnes ther was wryttin monie quarres of paper(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 636.
And Gaudifeir thi father forow Quhais saull our lord scheild fra sorow ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 247.
Ȝour blist moder, … quhais dollour and piete knew na man bot ȝe alanerly c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xxx 3.
Do weill to James ȝour wardraipair Quhais faythfull bruder maist freind I am 1531 Bell. Boece I 102.
Sen he was not thair lauchful pray, bot cuming under assurance of Romanis, quhais empire was eikit be inviolat faith Ib. 104.
To be ony forthir repugnant to the goddis be quhome all victory … procedis … , quhais deliverit sentence hes ordanit [etc.] 1549 Breadalbane Doc. No. 69.
The inhabitantis of the saidis landis … quhayis names adependis heirat c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 37.
Sa I intend, … Descryue the deidis and the man; Quhais ȝouth did occupie in lufe c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 26.
Sum was infect with parcialitie, Quhais alegeance was oftimes to and fro 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 22. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 127/17.
And als our saluiour hyme self chaunged the vater in vyne, quhais pover is als sufficient to chaunge [etc.] 1567 Sat. P. iii 175.
Hir duilsum deith be wars than Jesabell Quhome throw ane windo suirlie men did thraw, Quhais blude did laip the cruell hundis fell 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 262.
Quhilk turnit to the hurt of the inhabitantis of Edinburgh that eschewit, quhais houssis wer pullit doun for the same caus a1605 Montg. Sonn. xiii 3. 1622-6 Bisset II 219/9.
The taxt … salbe payed in tyme of peax … na thing sall be payed bot the faltouris fra the watche quhais unlaw sall pay the watche(b) a1585 Maitl. Q. xcii 4.
This hallow grave within her bounds dois close An worthy knight … Quhase lyflye spreit did warldlye things despyse(3) c1535 Lennox Mun. II 349.
That ȝe will delegently and get the kyngis … wrytyngis the qhays and the legatis to the Payp and to the kyng ȝour masteris oratour in Rowm … for the expedysion of my Lord of Glasgwis materris

6. The simple relative, with non-personal antecedent: Of which the. a. Restrictive. b. Non-restrictive (descriptive and resumptive).a. c1590 Fowler I 157/5.
Ar these the eyes quhase brightnes maks me blyndeb. (1) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 146.
Ringand ane siluer bell … , At quhais sound befoir Cupide appeiris [etc.] 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 106.
Out of the air come ane impressioun, Throw quhais [L. quhois] licht [etc.] … fell I doun c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvii 19.
Defy the warld, … Quha maist it servis sall sonast repent: Off quhais subchettis sour is the sals 1513 Doug. i Prol. 378.
Logicianys knawys heirin myne entent, Vndir quhais boundis lurkis mony strange went Ib. vi iii 91.
Throw quhais branchis, … The brycht glittyrrand goldin cullour schane Ib. vii ix 64, xii Prol. 38. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 349.
With the licht of the mone, eftir quhais rysing the batellis ionytt 1596 Dalr. I 17/22.
Vuir Clydisdale or Cludisdale in quhais bordour is Glasgwe foundet(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2592.
Esope … Wrait this parabole … Quhais problemes bene verray excellent 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 24.
The birdis … Quhais [L. Quhois] schill noitis fordinned all the skyis Id. Æn. viii xi 30.
Neir the chymmys calendar, Quhais ruffis laitly ful rouch thekit war 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 87.
Proceding be influence of weirdis quhais effect may nocht be alterit [etc.] Ib. 122.
Mers and Berwyk quhilkis wer vnder dominioun of Pichtis, quhais inhabitantis wes ay maist keyn … inimeis to Britonis Ib. 254. c1561 Sc. N. & Q. 3 Ser. VI 24.
In dev tym dra this cord the bel to clink Qvhais mery voce varnis to mete and drink 1567 G. Ball. 16.
This sacrament … Quhais greit vertew in vers I can not dyte 1596 Dalr. I 48/22.
The scheip, … quhais teith and fleshe in lyke maner ar ȝallow Ib. 13/16. 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS 8 Nov.
Throw suffering William Lamb to hald ane scole quhais number … far exceidis the present number of the grammer scole(b) a1605 Montg. Sonn. l 2.
O happy star, … Vhais bright aspect [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 152/10.
Whase(c) c1590 Fowler I 229/2.
The stormye sees Quhase wawes uer high lyke hills [etc.]

7. As objective genitive: Of whom (the), of which the. a. interrog. b. Simple relative, personal. c. Simple relative, non-personal.a. 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 379.
With my haill intention in that purpose, both efter quhat maner I wil have it to be done and for quhais subsidie and help I will have it heirefter to be employedb. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 793.
For God, in quhais luf scho brynt, Sa halely to hyme has hyr hint Ib. xxxvi 174.
Ȝete this Iohne ful mykil is, In quhais lofing Crist sad this [etc.] 1672 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 28 Feb.
For the said Johne Thomsone his fidelitie … for whas releiff Margaret Gibsone … is bund and obleist(2) a1585 Maitl. Q. xciv 14.
In honour lang he liuis, Quhase memorie, his learned sones reuiuisc. 1513 Doug. vi vii 4.
And owr the fludis bank ful swyftly sprent, Quhais passage is onreturnabill went 1531 Bell. Boece I 28.
Throw quhais difficill enteres hapnit, that the inhabitantis thairof dwelt in cavernis Id. Livy I 193/3.
Ȝoure playis ar now haistelie to be begvn, to quhais sicht sal the pepill be maist ernistfully gevin 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi in 1563-72 Tracts 70.
Ȝit hes the Lord a kirk for quhais edificatioun He hes ordanit ministeris [etc.]