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

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

Tha(i, Thay, pron. (adj.). Also: thaiy, tha(i)e, thaa, they(e, the(i, thea, tho, thy. [ME and e.m.E. þo (south., c1175), þeȝȝ (Orm), þei (c1200), thay (Cursor M.), thei (Wyclif), they (Chaucer), the (c1400), ON þei-r, OE þá.]

A. pron. 1. They, the third person plural personal pronoun referring to a previously mentioned plural noun. Also in reference to a singular or collective noun. b. As an indefinite pronoun: People in general, persons other than the speaker. Cf. Man n. 8 c.(a) 1312 Facs. Nat. MSS II xix.
[The said Edmund, William and the heirs of the said William shall come with all kinds of grain … ] that thai sal grind for thair fode 1375 Barb. i 2.
Storys to rede ar delitabill Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill a1400 Leg. S. ii 513.
Quhene Jowis mad thame bowne To dinge Sante Stewyn with stanis … Thar clathis by Paulis fet kest thay ?1438 Alex. i 1027.
Quhen the bretheris speris failȝit, Thair swordis swyftly out thai swyng a1500 Henr. Fab. 163.
Esope … makis mentioun Of twa myis, and thay wer sisteris deir 1512 Reg. Privy S. I 365/2.
The kingis hienis infeft him in the saidis landis park and fisching, efter thai wer recognist and appreciate to the kingis use 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1870 (B).
I mak ane vow to sweit Sanct Fillane, Get I thame thay [sc. Flattery, Deceit and Falsehood] sall beir thair paikis a1578 Pitsc. II 91 heading.
Hou the Inglis armie send ane ambassadour to the gowernour and quhat was thair desyre. … Hou thay send ane uther letter to the gowernor and [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II 196/12.
The quein and the Erle Bothwell seand the lordis so starklie gadderit aganes thame send ane herauld … to sie … quhat vas thair caus to cum so starklie in weirfair aganes hir. Thay ansuerit and said thay [pr. thaz] come nocht to invaid hir grace [sc. the queen] bot thay come to seik that traitour that murdrest hir husband to wit the Erle Bothwell 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 43/17.
For as to geire that chance quhilk maide you uantit Restore you may the same againe or maire For deith of freindis althocht thay same I grantit Can nocht returne 1586 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 50.
That mater beand ressoned upone be the parliament … was committed to ane smallare nombre of boythe the housses to be … consulted upone, for doing wherof thai ar assembled this xix day 1591 St. A. Kirk S. 714.
Thai, being severale accusit, vareis in thair depositionis c1650 Spalding II 348.
Thay brak wp a pype of Spanish wyne, and drank hartfullie(b) 1483 Acta Conc. I 81/2.
The malis of the said landis to remain as tha now do vntakin vp be ony partii [etc.] 1496 Treas. Acc. I 292.
For bering of a byrding of towis … fra the buth quhar tha wer bocht 1498 Reg. Morton II 249.
I bind & oblis me and my ayris … that I & tha sall contenew in gud seruice to the said lord 1531 Vaus (1531) 1.
Amant, tha lwf 1535 Stewart 4303.
The Scottis … that da tha wan the feild a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 114/9.
The scripturis allegit be the kirk ar sa plaine and manifest … that tha leif na place of dowt 1562-3 Winȝet I 126/15.
Gif the primitiue kirk obseruit the same voluntarie, sen tha war maist feruentlie geuin at that tyme to al godly exercise(c) a1586 Kamington in a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 39.
Thy constant clan thaiy ar discend of kings(d) 1375 Barb. xiv 215 (C).
In-to the toune … They [E. thai] enterit [bath] intermelle 1375 Barb. xviii 517 (C).
Thei [E. thai] led him furth 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vii 525.
Decernunt, dividunt rem (they part among thame) 1558-66 Knox I 46.
The dum Doctouris … begane to suspect him, and yitt said thei nothing publictlie 1581 Acts III 224/1.
The pairte purchessar of the saidis letteris … salbe haldin to produce the principallis and originallis, notwithstanding that thei be registrat as said is 1586–7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 163.
This malytyus inventyouns be swm heyr … hes put ws to gret truble and fasscherye in doyng quhat theye cane to sclander his majeste and dyscredit ws 1607 Sc. Ant. XV 141.
Ye sall caus my mother send me … ane pair of linnen cannovis to my breikis for thei are gone(e) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 33.
So mony theivis and mvrdereris weill kend, Sa grit relevis of lordis thame to defend, Becawis the [M. thai] spend the pelf thame betwene a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 121.
He maid … the inhabitants of the gude toun sa farr divydit in myndis, that the spairt not to cum againes uther in oppin hostilitie 1655 Mouswald Kirk S. 9 Dec.
Whether or no the take cairfull inspectione into the cariage of famileis as are in thair respective boundis to sie if they leiv soberlie and cristianlie(f) 1644 Wemyss Corr. 92.
The comitte, As thy haue wirrtin to you, will not be content that [etc.] 1657 Johnston Diary III 84.
They had by this vote layd a foundation … And if thy maid not good use of it the blayme should lye at their awen dooreb. 1375 Barb. iv 205.
Thai said, ‘Burch-in-the-sand Men callis this toun’ … ‘Call thai it burch als,’ said he c1420 Wynt. v 5564.
He speryd at hym gyff a knycht was In tyll hys cowrt thai cald Phocas a1500 Henr. Deth & Man 18.
My name … sen that thow speirs, Tha call me Deid a1500 Seven S. 47, 53.
Catone than thai callit the ferd … The fyft sege Malcome men couth call … Ampustinus thai callit the sext a1508 Kynd Kittok 5 (B).
Scho dwelt far furth in France … Thay callit hir Kynd Kittock … Thay threipit scho deid of thrist and maid a gud end 1535 Stewart 42469.
For lane, tha sa, suld ay cum lauchand hame 1557 Inverness Rec. I 8.
Quhat ever tha be that makis fyr in the Ellon salbe punist with ane nale in his luge 1568 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lviii.
It was not necessair that W Lord Hereis Kilwinning and vthiris that thai cal the Hamiltounis factioun sould mel thairwith a1699 Skene Agric. MS (ed.) 69.
They will milk the kow although the calf be not speaned

2. demonstr. pron. a. Chiefly as an antecedent followed by a defining phrase introduced by a relative clause: Those. b. Referring to a plural noun (or singular nouns) which has (have) already been mentioned: These. Also in accusative case, = them.Also ane (nane) of tha.a. 1375 Barb. vi 419.
Than thai that enbuschyt war Ischyt till him 1375 Barb. vii 214.
Or he gat wp ane off thai That com for to sla the king Gaiff hym a strak a1400 Leg. S. xviii 457.
I … gaf it frely til al thai That with me wald sik mastri ma c1390 Reg. Morton I xi.
Thou and tha that with thé come tuk away twenty-one beistis ?1438 Alex. i 3033.
I knaw he is nane of thay That mekill noyis and bost will may 1401 Aberd. B. Rec. (SHS) 210.
We ar thai at wald at gud acord war betwex yhu and hym, and wil do our besynes to bryng it thar to at our power c1420 Wynt. ii 1073.
All thai that he fande tharein [sc. Jericho] … He wndyde and slw all down a1500 Rauf C. 749.
I had myster to haue ma, And not to distroy tha That war worthie to ga To fecht 1533 Gau 84/2.
The wordis suld be thay quhilk our lord Jesus Christ lerit ws: our Fader [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I 137/15.
To the Godly peace and vnitie of all thame quha [MS thai that] vnfenȝetlie luuis Jesvs c1590 Fowler II 45/14.
Be the word byschop they onlie vnderstuid tha quha lauborit in preaching the word c1590 Fowler II 65/39.
I affirme boldly that thai quha imbraces sic horrible prophanatioun of Gods glorie, dois defile their soule with idolatrie(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 96 (C).
The Gregeois thynges two Asked: and the furst was of tho The restauracioune of skaithes a1500 Lanc. 2366.
Yhe sal have thre, and ches yhow on of tho … The first … Of low yhour hart … The next yhour nam, … The thrid [etc.] 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 988.
Grit God defend I suld be one of tho Quhilk of thair feid and malice neuer ho a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xiv 9.
I am not one of tho, To work my wilfull wo; I shaip not to do sob. 1375 Barb. ii 466.
To sum bath land and lyff gaiff he To leve the Bruysis fewte And serve the king off Ingland … Thomas Randell wes ane off tha That for his lyff become thar man a1400 Leg. S. iii 895.
I haf ministeris … To quham I haff gewine powere Al schriftis … till here … tak thé ane of tha … And til hym thi schrift thu ma! ?1438 Alex. i 1758.
With the formaist came Perdicas And Lyoun … His brother Lycanor alsua, The gude Emynedus came with tha c1420 Wynt. vii 2952.
The Kyng and the Qwene alsua And ane honest court wyth tha ?14.. Ship Laws c. 9 (H1).
And the schipmene cum apoune the cost of Bertane it aw to be apon the schipmene quhill thai be past the danger … Thaa [B. thai] of the cost of Bertanȝe aw bot anis kiching on the day 1460 Hay Alex. 283.
Alexander haid maisteris … Him to instruct … The quhilk Nectanabus was ane of tha 1460 Hay Alex. 1178.
In euirie wing he ordant chiftanis tua; Gif ony case hapnit till ane of tha, The tothir suld be reddie to supplie 1483 Acta Aud. *112/1.
A box withe tuenti five Inglis noblez, and of tha v Rose noblez and the remanent Henry noblez 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 210.
Ladyis fair and gudlie men arrayit In constant weid … Thay ryding furth with stabilnes ygroundit c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 133/71.
To thy auld servandis haff e That lang hes lipinit into thé. Gif I be ane off tha my sell … Off quhilk my wrytting witnes beris c1520-c1535 Nisbet John v 40.
Seek ye scripturis … tha it ar, that beres witnessing of me 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10053.
Ȝour awin twa sonnis ȝour self thame for to sla And my bodie wesche with the blude of tha(b) a1500 Sir Eger 2728.
An hundred men in armes full bright: And of them there was but knights two, And landed men many of tho a1500 Quare Jel. 383.
Every wicht … That quho thus lyvith in to jelousye In ire and malice birnyth … Quhareof I coud ane hundreth samplis tell … Amongis quhilk we fynd how one of tho His lady sleuth and syne himself also [etc.] 1535 Stewart 47052.
Betuix tua parteis greit contentioun fell … Robert the Bruce he wes the tone of tho, And Johnne Ballioll the tother of tha tuo(c) 15.. Clar. ii 1694.
He gart furth bring to evirie man a goune, That at the listis he had strikin doun … To Sir Pennent ane goun gave he also, [And he] himself that day wore ane of tho 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 613.
The Vicar of Dunbuge … With vthere fellowis tuo or thrie … I shuld not racken in with thea

c. In the phrase thai ar to say introducing details or an explanation of something mentioned in the preceding statement: To wit, namely, that is to say.See Say v.¹ 7 b (3) for further examples. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 76.
The lordis chesit the lordis of the articles as efter followis; they ar to say, for the spiritualitie, the bischopes of Dunkeld … and Dunblane, … for the baronis [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 347.
Thir actis following … wer proclamit … thai ar to say, first, commandand … all wappinshawin to be keipit … at tua termes in the ȝeir, … ane act … anent the making of iyrnes and stokis … ane act … anent [etc.] 1584 Argyll Fam. Lett. 66.
In presens of the witnessis vnder writtin, thay ar to say [etc.] 1587 Rec. Earld. Orkney 312.
Be the sycht of the honest men underwreattin, thai ar to say, Malcolme Grot of Tankernes, William Halcro of Acarris [etc.] 1595–6 Frasers of Philorth II 248.
How sone he or his foirsaidis sall redeme … the landis wndirwretin, thay ar to say, the landis of Tibbertie [etc.] 1607 Dunblane Test. III 108.
The guidis and geir vnderwretin … Thay ar to say foure kye [etc.]

B. demonstr. adj. a. Qualifying a plural noun: Those, these. b. Tha ilke, the same persons already mentioned. See Ilk adj.¹ 1 a for further examples.(a) 1375 Barb. vii 185.
He had dreid of thai [1571 the] thre men That at the tother fyr war then a1400 Leg. S. i 300.
John Beleth in his buk sais, That Sanct Petir in tha daise Full besyly wes prechand 1395 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 4.
The forsayd Robert sal resyng vp al his rychtis of the landis of Cultyr … wyth al the fredomys that to tha landis partenys c1400 Troy-bk. i 247.
Nere-hand by the cite ware Fare forestis … And … thai woddys warnyst were In-to haboundance of wyld dere 1415 (1430) Reg. Great S. 39/1.
Quhat tyme that the landis of Wchtirach be recoveryt, the sayd Huchon … and the sayd Jonet sal resayf tha landis into joyntfeftment c1450-2 Howlat 554 (A).
Archebald … Weddit that wlonk wicht worthy of ware With rent and with riches and be thai ressonis He bure the sternis of estait in his stele weidis 1456 Hay I 38/15.
In that tyme thai contreis were callit Lombardye 1471 Acta Aud. 11/1.
He to be pait therof of the said oxin & gif thai oxin be of mare vale, he to restore again the remanent a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 268.
Corspatrik betrasit Berwik toun And slew sevin thousand Scottismen within thay wawis 1544 Boyd Fam. P. No. 24 (13 Oct.).
In thai caicis the richts and defenses that ony of the saids parties hes [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 26.
Ane catechisme … contenand … thai thingis quhilk ar necessary to thame to ken and keip 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxxi.
He payit the towchers of the lard of Panlathys tua dochters, quha wer ayres, and gat thay landis(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 69 (C).
They a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1116.
Thei nobillis at neid yeid to thair note new 1542 Linlithgow B. Ct. 22 Nov.
[She] is … content … to … pay the said George Bell als mekill for thea furlattis of quhet that scho restis awand him effrand as scho pait for the said boll of quhet 1552 Reg. Privy C. I 136.
Lord Huntlie, Scheref and Lieeutennent in they boundis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 331.
Vpoun the scaffold, he repeatit … the substance of thea thingis quhilk befoir he had confessit 1622-6 Bisset I 301/18.
The said serjand sall pas with twa or thrie sufficient witnese to the chemise of the said tenandrie … and there in presens of they witnese, he sall [etc.](c) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 170 (C).
Tho thre syttyng in that whyles To-gydder … Vlixes seyd [etc.] a1500 Quare Jel. (1976) 102.
Tho glettering teris, als thik as ony haile(d) c1420 Wynt. v 4798.
He abbregyd than the lawys That thai off Rome held in thaire dawys c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 153/115.
Thae tarmegantis with tag and tatter Full lowd in Ersche begowth to clatter a1578 Pitsc. I 16/4.
Thaie thewis … wald burne thair housses and carrie thair heill guidis away a1578 Pitsc. I 194/23.
That he estait … was weill kynd on thae men and vthiris 1596 Dalr. II 344/20.
Quhen the realme of Scotland was at rest, the burgessis, and landwart men, began to mend … thae houses that … the ennimies had raiset fyre in [etc.]b. 1387 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 11.
Jonne Prymros Jonne of Scone and Jonne Skuyere masonys … sal mak … v chapellis … Alsua tha ylk men sal mak in ylk chapel … a wyndow 1402 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 9.
Saufand to the forsaide religeous men courtis of lyfe & lym of tha ilke & deforsmentis of thair officearis