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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hew, n.¹ Also: hewe, heu. [ME. hew(e, heu, OE. híew, híw.]

1. Without article: Colour, hue, tint. a1400 Leg. S. ix. 56.
His claithis are quhyte … , Sete with stanis of purpure hew c1420 Wynt. i. 779.
Hys eyne ar yholowe, and of hewe … blwde rede Ib. 1339.
Flowrys … Hale off hewe ?1438 Alex. i. 1229.
His leggis … Arrayit in melȝe of fyne hew c1450-2 Howlat 399.
Ane grene tre … , that bure branchis … blythest of hewe 1456 Hay II. 138/25.
Sum [waters] may be knawin be thair … hewe a1500 Henr. Fab. 127.
This … jasp, richt different of hew Ib. 2820.
The blaberryis, … sad of hew c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxi. 70.
This gray hors … Quhilk … In lyart changeit is in hew 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 118.
Lyk as the sey changis … hys hew c1552 Lynd. Mon. 306.
His habitt angellyke of hew 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 14.
[The] stain is said to be blak of hew

2. A particular colour or tint.Frequent in the plural, and in the sing. for this with all, all kin, divers, mony, sindry.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 3759.
Ane lytstar … That sone sa fyne hew can dicht c1450-2 Howlat 431.
The colour of asure, ane hevinliche hewe 1456 Hay II. 130/33.
Herbis and flouris … drawis till a fadand hewe a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 602.
Baith his horse and his geir wes of ane hale hew c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 89.
A goun … Off ewiry hew under the hevin that bene 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 56.
Brovne muris kythit thar wysnyt mossy hew 15.. Clar. iii. 258.
Never … scho … wore ane hew bot ane 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 128.
Ane cloik of maldy; ane coit of the samyn hew 1591 Edinb. Test. XXIII. 20 b.
Ten elnes scheipis hew 1585 James VI Ess. 49.
Thy heauenly hewes … in hewe of ashe … conuerted all(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 665.
With clathis of syndry hew c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 14.
Clowttis ane hundreth scoir, Ilk ane of diuers hew a1500 Doug. K. Hart 54.
With cure to ken the colour of all hew 1535 Stewart 33041.
With tapestrie of mony sindrie hew 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6187.
As pacok taillis, and fedderis of all kin hew a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii. 3.
Grene, ȝellow, blew, and mony hew(3) c 1390 Reg. Morton I.
Oxin and ky … of syndri eildis and syndri hewis c1420 Wynt. v. 48.
Append. xl. A fygowre … Off hewys fyne and fayre payntoure 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 20.
vij elne of tartar of variant hewis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 20.
All the gressis did gleme of the glaid hewis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 604.
Begaryit all with sindrie hewis a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii. 33.
Off all thir thre hewis I haif left clewis 1596 Dalr. I. 93/9.
The nobilitie delyted mair in coloured claith & sindrie hewis 1622 Black Bk. Taymouth 362.
Ane gray plaid that hes bot ane sprang of hewis(4) fig. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2710.
Of ane trew taill thow can weill change the hew a1568 Bann. MS. 75b/6.
Honor oft syis chengeis hewis

3. Facial colour; complexion. Hide and hew: see Hide n. 3 b. c1420 Wynt. vii. 93.
The knycht … changyd hewe … And hys wysage worthyd wan ?1438 Alex. ii. 3850.
Ane lady fare and bricht of hew c1460 Thewis Gud Women 95.
[Let her] kep the hew of hir nature, For syk fairnes sal langest dure a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 44.
That lady bricht of hew Id. Orph. 349.
Erudices … pitouse and pale of hewe c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 25.
Hir hew was wan and wallowed as the leid 1535 Stewart 14132.
He … Wox reid for schame and changit oft his hew 1570 Sat. P. x. 133.
He wes blak and Moriane of hew c1590 J. Stewart 28/476.
Dreid did dim the glansing of hir hew

4. Appearance, aspect. ?1438 Alex. ii. 4588.
Be his hew, Of his semblance, he knew … That he na louit him c1475 Wall. ii. 398.
Longcastell … Hynt out his swerd, that wes of nobill hew 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 281.
By his [sc. the sun's] hew, but orleger or dyall, I knew it was past four houris of day