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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Say, Sey, v.² Also: saye, seay; se, seie. [ME and e.m.E. saye (c 1380), saie (Lydgate), say (c 1475); aphetic f. Assay v.]

1. tr. To put to trial or proof; to test, try out. = Assay v. 1.(1) 15.. Clar. ii 1645.
The luits beine sayit and the strings; 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 517.
Eftir that he had sayit hir [sc. the ship] lang for hyir, … he coft hir 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii 41.
To preif my spreit and say my scharp ingyne 1584 Ib. xlv 796.
His thovmbis was on the soillis to say them [sc. shoes] 1599–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 52b.
For viii pound poulder to saye tham [sc. guns] with all(b) 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 127.
For monting and drawing of the samin [gun] to the Cragheid to be seyit and schott 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 930.
To seay a bow that was sumthing wicht 1613 Inverness Rec. II 117.
Giffen Robert Stewart to summond theis that seyit the wattir laitlie 13 s. 4 d.(2) a1578 Pitsc. I 252/4.
The king gart schot ane cannon at hir [sc. the ship] to say hir gif scho was wicht

b. intr. To say to, appar. to make trial of, have recourse to. c1420 Ratis R. 1065.
Bot gyf thyne amouris … be vedit … Say to gud hop and resoune than. Gyf thai twa [sc. hope and reason] … can nocht find That scho may syk a band wnbynd I pray thé reul thé as thai red

c. tr. To try by tasting; to consume. = Assay v. 1 c. 1520 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 202.
That nane of the tavernaris wyffis, nor wemen seruandis … waill, sey, or by ony wynis a1568 Scott v 34.
Butter, new cheis [etc.], … Grene leikis and all sic, men may say

d. To test or assay (metal). = Assay v. 1 d. 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. V 371.
Every pudermaker … sall say the tyn weschell maid be utheris … be tuiching thairof with ane het irne

e. To try (on) (a garment); to try (a garment) on (a person or animal). 1600 Crim. Trials II 158.
That my lord wes seyand on a py dowblett with the taill pecis for the wamb 1633 Maxwell Mem. II 223.
My lord … seyed on your worship's horse both the fute mantells

2. a. To put to the test, to test out (an opponent). Cf. Assay v. 3. 1570 Sat. P. xvii 137.
This realme, quhilk enemeis oft sayit With cruell weir a1578 Pitsc. I 243/7.
The blak knicht sayit thame all bot thair was nane that mycht war him Ib. 270/21.
I will haue them all befoir me … and say thame quhat they can do all befor me Ib. 340/6.
Bot they war weill sayit or they past out of Scottland 1602 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 951.
[It may chance hereafter when they have] seyit [and touched others well as they will if matters be well guided … then your men may the rather enter to the place and dispatch them]

b. To test, try out, try (a person or thing) as a source of support in the performance of an undertaking. 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxxviii 104.
Obey God, go say God, with prayer and fasting a1578 Pitsc. I 19/29.
And chance and fortoun quhilk we think to sey will supplie the rest 1600-1610 Melvill 434.
‘Now it may be thought I am liberall … because na minister will venture to com amangs us, therfor get me men and sey me' a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1108.
Men sould sey they freinds or they mister a1651 Calderwood VIII 240.
When the duke hath seyed the nobilitie of Scotland for his returning with small profite and no resolute answere now he turns him to insinuat himself in the favours of England

c. reflex. To make trial of oneself, to test one's mettle, in combat. a1578 Pitsc. I 244/3.
This turnament and iusting beand indureit the space of xl dayis … befoir that evirie man had tyme and lasour to sey him sellff gif he pleisit

3. To try out in performance, to attempt; also const. on another.(1) a1540 Freiris Berw. 347 (B).
He … come agane, and seyit all his cure 15.. Wyf Awcht. 62.
He satt doun to say the spynning a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 186 (W).
Nor ȝit haue sayit the archere craft, nor schot my selfe with sic ane schaft Ib. 347.
I freyit to sey it, I luikit vpon loft Id. Flyt. 64 (T).
Go, sey thy science(2) a1651 Calderwood V 557.
They could not choose a more proper subject … to sey their craft on nor us

b. ellipt. To make trial of as an experience, try. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. v 38.
If any of my dolour dout, Let ilkane sey thair tym about

4. To attempt or endeavour (to do something); to attempt to bring (something) about. Also absol. = Assay v. 2.(1) 1581 Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. Rec. IV 125.
War not thow seis full ill the band to leid a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 735 (W).
Quhairwith befoir he seyit to schuit, He [etc.] Id. Misc. P. xx 41.
Thoght … death with deidly dairt Suld sey to caus me smart Id. Devot. P. iv 38, etc.(2) 1680 Soc. Ant. XLV 233.
There ar of minister [sic] that say a confedaracy with themabsol. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1155, 1156 (Wr.).
Yee should not say, sir, till yee see; But, when yee see it, say

5. To find out or discover by trial or examination; to ascertain.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 132/49.
The lerit sone off erll or lord … Saying his odius ignorance Panting ane prelottis countenance 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. I 113.
To sey and feill thair minds to thaim and se quhome in thai ma lippin in(2) 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 259.
He suld seay Gif he culd lerne him to obey 1637 Johnston Diary I 253.
Seie

b. specif. To search or examine (a market) for badly made goods.1694 Glasgow Hammermen 49 (see Say-master n. b).