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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sice, Sise, n. Also: syce, sys, syis. [ME and e.m.E. sys (Chaucer), sice (Lydgate), sise (Caxton), OF sis (1080 in Larousse) (F. six), MDu. sijs. Cf. Sex n.³]

1. The number six on a dice; a ‘six’, a throw of a dice resulting in the six being uppermost. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxiv 73.
Ane dysour said … The Devill mot stik him with a knyfe, Bot he kest vp fair syisis thre c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS 94b/32.
Sum tynis syis and wynnis bot es [M. eis]; Sum to the diuill givis the dyis

2. In various phrases with sink (= five), apparently referring to a game with (? or a throw of the) dice, and implying an element of risk or uncertainty.(1) 1535 Stewart 21452.
[Planctius] Wittand so weill that he micht nocht prevaill Agane the power that wes of sic prys And greit folie to set on synk and sys The grit honour befoir the Romanis wan c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 84.
To mow and steill I ken the pryce I sall it set on cincg and syce 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7986.
I think it best to play thame [sc. women] at the dice The neirest way in this warld is I wene To saue thair schame, set thame on sink and sice(2) 15.. Dunb. App. ix 37.
Exerce vertew and banys euery vice Dispys fortun, richt rynis on synk and sise(3) 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 124.
Than wald scho [sc. Queen Mary] that thay suld hir awin sone crowne Quhilk thing thay did sa syce vp and sink downe

b. fig. To set apon sys, ? to take risks, act recklessly. 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 60.
Sum ledys langis on the land, for love or for lak, To sembyll with thar schaftis and set apon sys

3. Be sys and trayis (Thre num. 1 d), a phrase from gambling, used here in enumeration. 1460 Hay Alex. 8624.
I will ȝow first all my skill declare Be sys and trayis how mony that thai ar … Thre schort, thre lang