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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Wes(c)h(e, Was(c)h(e, v. Also: wessche, wessh, wech, vesch(e, vasch(e, wach, wysch(e, wische, vyshe, weysch(e, waisch, woucht, wes, was, wis-, wous. P.t. wes(c)h(e, veshe, wysch(e, wis(c)h(e, visch, wosch(e, wusche, weisch(e, veische, waische, wous(c)h(e, wuische, weusch(e, weschit, waischit, wosched. P.p. wes(c)hin(g, -yn, -ein, veschin(e, wessin, was(c)hin, -en, vas(s)chin, uashin, wyschin, waischin, wechst, washt, washed, waished. [ME and e.m.E. wasche(n, wesche(n (both c1175), wasshenn (Orm), waishe (Wyclif), wysshe(n (Gower), waysh (1520), wash (1538), p.t. wasch (c1300), wesche (1320), wa(i)schide (both Wyclif), wisshe (Trevisa), waische (c1400), wysshe (Caxton), p.p. i-wasshen (c1200), wayschen (Wyclif), waisshen (Gower), washen (1430-40), waischid (c1449), weschyn (c1450), wasshed (1450-1530), OE wæscan, wascan, Du. wasschen, Germ. waschen.]

I. tr.1. To cleanse or bathe ((a part of) the body) (with (in) water, a basin, etc.), also to wash or bathe as a cure for illness or to improve one's health, esp. as practised by witches. Also proverb.(1) pres. a1400 Leg. S. xlvi 34.
Scho vald … confort thaim … Vith almus dedis … Vesch thare fet, & keme thar hare ?1438 Alex. ii 6298.
I rede That we gang him of that steid, And auent him and wesch his wyce 1456 Hay II 121/22.
Thou sall wesch thy teith, and syne rub thame with a bark of a tree c1500 Makc. MS iv 14.
Thi flech & blud in bred & wyne … Gif Thi discipulis, syne lauly wech [Bann. MS 33b/14, wische] thar feit a1586 Lindsay MS 10a.
Quhen the knychtis ar past to thair lougeing thay sall disarme thame and wech thair faces and put thame to point to cum and eit with the Lord that haldis the feist 1585–6 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 442.
To wesh ane Indiane … whom al the watir in the sea can never mak quhite(b) c1420 Wynt. v 3917.
Scho oysyd to wysyt … All powr [folk] that wes nere hyr by, Scho sparyd noucht thare fate to weysche(c) c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 10.
Wascheithp.t. a1400 Leg. S. xxii 268.
In the house of Marcessy, He fand Cristine gaderit mony. Thane … sat done & wysch thare fet(b) c1475 Wall. ii 267.
Scho warmyt wattir, and hir serwandis fast His body wousche, quhill filth was of hym past(c) c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 13.
Christ waische his discipillis feit 1597 Crim. Trials II 28.
Scho waische the seik woman … frome the croune of hir heid to the soill of hir fute(d) 1533 Gau 64/26.
Christ forgaiff the sinful voman quhilk weisch his feit(e) 1597 Elgin Rec. II 50.
Scho said to Grissall Uruall … that Janet Cumming veshe William Youngis bairn and that scho thocht scho culd helpe hir bairne(f) 1567 G. Ball. 44.
Wusche(g) 1616 Rogers Social Life III 298.
She, upon ane Sonday befoir the sone rysing … came to ane wall besyd James Corrigillis hous and thair wosched hir face(h) 1623 Crim. Trials II 537.
Scho went … to the Turret-Port, tuik watter frome thence, … brocht it to Andro Duncanes house; and thair, wpone hir kneis, in the name of the Father, Sone, and Halye Goost, weusch the bairnep.p. c1520-c1535 Nisbet John xiii 14.
Gif I, Lord and Maistere, haue waschen your feet, and ye sal waisch ilkane vtheris feet 1700 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 330.
That ther be chosen out of the high class … so many as may have inspectione of the rest of the schooll … to notice that ther hands be washen, ther heads combed, and ther cloaths neat(b) 15.. Christis Kirk 7 (B).
Thair come our kitteis weschin clene(2) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 135.
With the wattire of hyr ene … Scho wesche His fet a1400 Leg. S. xvi 885.
Mary … with hyr teris wysche the fete Of Jhesu Criste 1456 Hay II 121/10.
Kepe wele that thou wesch oft tymes in somer thy fete and thy visage, and thy handis with cald water faire and suete 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9966.
Wesche thy bodie with the twa babeis blude, Thy flesche salbe als fair, als clene, als gude As euer it was in ony time beforne 1596 Elgin Rec. II 39.
Scho … speirat at hir gif scho culd helpe the seik barne … the said Cuming … broght with her wattir in ane pig and veische the barne thairwith 1596 Elgin Rec. II 45.
Preinak confessis that … scho … weshe the said barne with ane blak clout 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 273.
Scho weusche also Christis feit with salt teares for satisfactioun of hir sinnes 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 54.
The said Jhon Parkis adulterus hure … bad his vyf vasch him with vinegir and grein sav … vpon the place quhair he swat, and gif the sveit vent dounvart to his seit he vald mend 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
The bringer to be dwm boith in going and cummyng halding the mouth of the pig to the north, quhairuith scho wousch hir and [etc.](b) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1371.
With teiris scho wuische his bludie face(3) 1489 Treas. Acc. I 111.
A bassing to wessche the kingis feyt in a1500 Prestis of Peblis 206 (A).
He … wox so full of warldis welth & wyn His handis he wosche [Ch. wish] in a siluer basyn 1513 Doug. ii xi 70.
It war onleifful … to me From sa gret slauchter … Newly departit, to twich thame [sc. holy relics], for the blude, Quhil I be weschyn into sum rynnand flude 1533 Bell. Livy II 178/17.
Eftir that thir ȝoung men had wesching thare handis and bodijs clene in ane quyk rynnand flude, thai clothit thame self [etc.] 1549 Compl. 145/9.
Ther vas no ceremonial reuerens nor stait … quha suld haue the dignite to vasche ther handis fyrst in the bassine, nor ȝit quha suld sit doune fyrst at the tabil 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8410.
My mother … with towell in her hand Waitting quhill I wesche my handis in the plait 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 87.
He was compellit to send … for ane wther witche to tak thi witchecraft from him, Quha com … and weische him in ane sowtht rynnand watter 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 553.
Ye sent it [sc. the water] to the said Elspeth … and bad that the said Elspeth sould be waschin tharin, hand and feite, and scho sould be as heall as ever sho wesproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 995.
I will learne yow ane other use, nor wasch your feit in the kirne

b. reflex.To wash oneself. Also in fig. context. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 551.
He bad thame [sc. the lepers] pase To sum watir that by was, & wesch thame. & sa dyd thai, & gat thare hele c1450-2 Howlat 827 (A).
The barde … Socht watter to wesche him thair out in ane ydy a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 63/35.
The feind sayis fy thow saris of blek Ga wysche thé weill [B. clenge thé clene] syn cum to me 1533 Gau 63/27.
Vesch ȝow and be cleyne 1551 Hamilton Cat. 23.
Suppoise thow wesche thi self with saip … yet in my sycht thow art fylit be reson of thi wyckitnes and syn 1551 Hamilton Cat. 122.
Ane myrrour, quhairin … gif thai see thair face blekkit, thai may gang to the wattir to wesche thame 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4985.
Twa bathing fattis he maid … Gif ony man his bodie wald refresche Pas to that ane, thairwith he micht him wesche 1588 St. A. Kirk S. 622.
Sche … desyrit hir to wasche hir with watter and spetiale south rynnand watter 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 86.
Eftir thei hed anes waschin tham selffis and dryit agane 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv 142.
They wash themselues in a lauatoio 1634 Reid Auchterarder 205.
To pas thrie severall nights to a south ryning water and to weshe himselff ny[ch]tlie therinfig. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. vii 6 marg.
Swyne are thai quhilkis wassis thair seluis in the puddill and fylthines [of] lustes

c. lit. and fig.With reference to Pilate's washing his hands (see Nisbet), to wash one's hands of (a matter), to take no responsibility for, have nothing more to do with. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxvii 24.
Pilate … tuke watir, and waischit his handis before the pepile, and said, I am innocent of the blude of this richtuise man 1569 Cal. Sc. P. II 676.
[Besides Murray] wesshis at all tymes [his own hands of it, and lays the burden on the nobility] 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 53.
He (tareing in the castell of Edinburgh) kepit him self clene as Pilat wesching his handis of the dead of Chryst 1558-66 Knox I 6.
He was committed to the secular judge, (for our bischoppis follow Pilat who boith did condempne and also wesche [MS wach] his handis)

d. To wash (an animal). Also proverb. 1513 Doug. vii viii 31.
The deir also full ofttyme … wald sche [sc. Sylvia] … wesch intil a fontane cleir 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 554.
Ye did wasch the feit of James Davidsones kat into his bait water becaus he could get no fisch 1634 Reid Auchterarder 205.
Therefter to weshe his horse and cattell therwtproverb. c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Peter ii 22.
For that ilk verray prouerbe befell to thame, the honnd turnit agane to his spewing, and a sow is weschin in weltring in fenn

2. To wash as part of the ceremony of baptism; to baptise; to cleanse by baptism. Also reflex. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 868.
I cane fond To that flume that haly was, & wesche in yt bath handis & face 1490 Irland Mir. III 9/16.
The preist or minister of the bapteme puttis the watter elementar on the body of the persoune and sais … I clenge thi saule and weschis thi body in the name of the fader [etc.] c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. iii 6.
Jerusalem went out to him [sc. John the Baptist] and al Judee … and thai war weschin of him in Jordan 1533 Boece 399a.
Copios multitude of Danis … was weschin be this haly lavature and professit the trew faith of Criste 1581 Burne Disput. 48b.
He veschis or baptesis sum as his beleuarisreflex. a1400 Leg. S. xxix 239.
Jhesu … sad … 'Ful happy art thu now, Eustace, That in the watir of myn grace Has gert wesch thé'

3. To wash (a corpse, remains). a1400 Leg. S. xxx 782.
[He] vncled hyr, as custum was, The ded body for to wesche 1513 Doug. vi iii 121.
The cald ded corps is weschin and invnct, Enbalmyt with rich gummys euery iunct 1513 Doug. vi iii 138.
The reliqueis and the dry ammeris syne Thai sloknyt, and gan weschin with sweit wyne c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 51.
First, of my bowellis clenge my bodie clene, Within & out; syne, wesche it weill with wyne 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xiv.
In Acts 9 we read that before Tabitha was lade vp, she was washen

4. To cleanse or bathe (a wound or injured part of the body). c1475 Wall. viii 787.
The wery ost … Wysche woundis with wyn, off thaim that was wnsound a1500 K. Hart 238.
Scho … Delyuerit him Deme Bewtie vnto sene His wound to wesche in sobering of his sair c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xvi 33.
He tuke thame in … and weschit thare woundis 1686–7 Misc. Spald. C. V 237.
Alexander Black … deponed upon aith that he sawe Alexander Chalmer his hand blooding, after it was washen, being hurt

5. fig.To cleanse (a person, his heart, etc.) (fra (of) sin, etc.).(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 81/21.
The wattir of bapteme … weschis and clengis us fra original syn c1552 Lynd. Mon. 469.
Frome our synnis … He wysche ws with His precious blude 1532 Hamilton Cat. 192.
The barne that is baptizit is cled with ane quhite lynning claith callit ane cude, quhilk betakins that he is clene weschin fra all his synnis 1567 G. Ball. 121.
Thow wusche me Lord quhen I was borne, From all my wickitnes a1570-86 Maitl. F. 199/70.
For ws Thow bled Thi blude Off Thé come doun the walter gude That wische ws all of our trespas c1588 Cath. Tr. 255/31.
The innocencie whilk we receaue in the baptisme being veschin from our sinnes and indeued with puretie and simplicitie of conscience 16.. Binning Serm. Wks. (1735) 566.
We are washen from the guilt of our sins 1653 Binning Wks. (1841) 562.
If defiled again, get your hearts washed from wickedness(2) 1533 Gau 35/19.
The blwid of Jesus Christ … hes veschine our conscience 1551 Hamilton Cat. 183.
As wattir weschis and clengis the bodye outwartly, sa we suld beleve that be the sacrament of baptyme, we ar weschin in our saulis 1567 G. Ball. 169.
Except thow weschin be, With Christis blude allanerlie, Thow art condampnit man 1558-66 Knox I 23.
Christ woushe us with His blood 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 143b.
Ȝe ar veschin; ȝe ar sanctefeit. Hou can ȝe be veschin quha ȝit retenis the faith of syn? 1596 Dalr. II 390/21.
Thair constancie wische al and clenset al 1640 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 608.
Let Him wring, and be ye washen; for He hath a father's heart, and a father's hand, who is training you up, and making you meet for the high hall

b. Of Christ: To purify spiritually the people of the Church. 1533 Gau 56/8.
Lord Jesus Christ gaiff Hime selff to deid for the halie Chrissine kirk to mak it saiff and halie and He hes veschine it with the lawer of water throw the vord of liff 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 99/5.
Christ has luifit his kirk, and hes geuin Him self for her, to mak hir haly thairby, vesching hir vith the lauer of valter in the vord

6. To clean (an object, (part of) a building, etc.) by washing, to wash (a commodity, coinage, etc.) as part of the manufacturing process. Also fig. 1498 Halyb. 149.
iiij men to weysch it [sc. the wool] and dry it 1501 Edinb. Hammermen MS 38a.
To twa childis to wech the hers 1506 Liber Aberbr. II 370.
To wis hyng ande dry nettis, to tak fische, ande all othir necessar thingis to do use … and hant neidful to fisching craft c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke v 2.
The fischaris war gaan doun and weschit thar nettis 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 253.
That [there be] na slaing of nolt … nor yit na ischeis wessin at commoun wellis 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II 76.
To ane fallow to wesche the kirk thre moneth in winter, xiiij s. c1563 Reg. Panmure I xxxvi.
Cwmine to ane vatter … [he] vald lyght fra his hors, and in the cauld frost vald vyshe his haukes supper, and nevir shrink for cauld a1568 Bann. MS 141b/57.
Als tyrd as scho had weschin a spone 1604 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 39.
[She] maskit hir fatt and weische hir standis 1620 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 211.
In cais the said James … salhappin to buy … any gloves quhilk ar alreddie perfumit and weshin 1679 Mint Melting Journals 20b.
Waished and left in the great pott yet to seek out theiroffig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 499.
My silver is not good and current with Christ were it not that free merits have stamped it, and washen it and me both!

7. To wash (linen, clothes, etc.), also as one's occupation. Also fig.(a) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 356.
To the Ersche lathinar at weschis the Kingis clathis, … xiiij s. 1522 Stirling B. Rec. I 17.
That na persoun … woucht ony maner of clais at the toune bouirn … for fyling of the bourn, undir the pain of viij s. vnforgevin and brekin of the weschal that tha wous with 1530 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 30.
Diuers seruandis … takis this womanis coller and that womanis curtche and wescheis thame amangis thar maisteris 15.. Wyf Awcht. 94.
He trailit the fowll scheitis doun the gait, Thocht to haif wechst thame on ane stane 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II 165.
[They] ordanis that na personis wesche ony claithis at the Borrow Loch in tyme cummyng 1567 Lanark B. Rec. 39.
The counsall hes … ordanit that na personis wysche ony clathis or ony uder thing nother at the burne nor yit at Sanct Mungois wall … bot geif thei wysch ony thing that thei gang of the hie gait to the baksyd 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 301.
He … hard Patrik Gourlay cry on Margaret Wilson, being at the burn-syde weschyng claitht, and said, [etc.] 1574–5 Elgin Rec. I 149.
Sax schillingis monie for the pryce of ane sark quhilk Hector Angus geff hir to vesche and stowin in hir defalt 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 54.
That the saids Issobell Barcar and Jonett Galt wesche the lynning claythis of the remanent at the brig 1597 Crim. Trials II 26.
[She] tuke aff hir [sc. the sick woman's] sark that was than vpoun hir and hir mutche, and waischit thame in a south-rynnand water 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 65.
Meg Richie … denyit, that scho … vatirit lint or visch claithis on the Sonday 1623 Crim. Trials III 556.
[For] causeing wasche his sark in ane south-rynnand watter, and thairefter putting it vpone him; quhairby he ressauit his helthe(b) 1568 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 160.
[The said factor] sall caus to wes his lynnyng claithis and schetis … belangand to himfig. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 42/11.
Ue maye … compeire uith neu & quhyte garments uashin [1599 washen, 1603 washed] in the bloode of the lambe 1636 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 134.
The witnesses who are come out of great tribulation, and have washen their garments and made them white in the blood of the Lamb

8. a. To wash away, to carry off in the flow of water. b. To flow over, inundate. Also fig.Quot. 1563 may be a further example of a.a. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1375.
It was … Maist lamentabill the pereist folk to se … Sum hang vpon a takill … Sum fra thair grip sone weschin with the see 1618 Elgin Rec. II 155 n.
They fand … aboue the merchandis loft … ane pairt quhair the wett haid raint that haid becum grein and haid vaschin the lym therfrab. 1563 Edinb. B. Deeds 94b.
The ry that wes weschein be the sey watter 16… Abercrummie in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 5.
Steep rock which is ever washen with the sea 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 37.
Sanda … [has] several tongues of land washen by the seafig. c1590 Fowler I 83/159.
For pittie of hir death the earth was washt with teares

c. Of the sea: To be washed with (a rock), to wash or flow over. 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxvii.
In this crag [sc. the Bass Rock] wes sum time ane stane … of sik nature that all salt watter that is waschin thairwith becumis … fresche and delicius to the mouth

d. Of blood: To flow over (an animal's body). 1513 Doug. xii xii 67.
Abundans of blude stremys owt, That can do wesch, bedy, or all to baith, Thar [sc. the bulls] grym nekkis

9. fig.To remove (a stain or blemish), to remove or wash away (sin). 15.. Dunb. App. ix 31.
The souerane senȝour of all celsitude … Is with His woundis cum for to wesche our syn 1562-3 Winȝet I 13/35.
To behald attentlie euery day the samyn mirrour, and to purge and wesche all smotis expressit be it 1567 G. Ball. 14.
Our baptisme dotit with sanctitude, And greit vertew, to wesche our sinfulness a1568 Bann. MS 28b/28.
Out of Thi he supernall sete Law to discend and wesche our sin

II. intr.10. In the above senses, esp. to wash oneself, the hands, etc. before or after eating.pres. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 85.
Pres nocht … to bee … our-clen wesching one verk-dais c1520-c1535 Nisbet John ix 11.
Ga thou to the watire of Syloe, and waisch c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 872.
This squyer and the ladie gent Did wesche, and then to supper went 1570 Inverness Rec. I 190.
The said Christan … confessit the rasait of the said towall to wesche, and allegit scho hang it in the halister 1592 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 117.
For saip to wesche with … at xxviij d. the pund 1598 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 1 Dec.
Becaus of the greit hurt that the fyre dois to the bowis of the brig, causit be some of thame that waschis tharat, in causing the stanes tharof to lowp & to injure the samen, it is statut … that [etc.] 1606 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 19.
[The barbers of Edinburgh] to cow, schaif, wasche and to mak aquavite allanerliep.t. ?1438 Alex. ii 10879.
The king than wosch and ȝeid to meit c1450-2 Howlat 849 (A).
The pape begynnis the grace as greably ganit Wosche with thir worthyis and went to counsall a1500 Henr. Fab. 268.
Withowtin grace thay wesche and went to meit, With all coursis that cukis culd deuynep.p. ?1438 Alex. ii 5009.
Quhan thay had washin, that barny Was set to meit all halely ?1438 Alex. ii 7646.
The king askit water, and … Quhen he had weshin … The Bauderane syne callit he ?1438 Alex. ii 11089.
Quhen thay had etin and wyschin baith a1500 Rauf C. 143.
Sone was the supper dicht, and the fyre bet, And thay had weschin a1500 Rauf C. 726.
Quhen worthie had weschin and fra the buirdis went, Thay [etc.] c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xi 38.
The Pharisee began to say … quhy he was nocht waischin before mete 15.. Clar. v 437.
When thay had waschin and [the] grace all said, From tabill then thay raise 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 149.
Faulttis giffin vp: … Issobell Broun … to haif vasschin this day aucht dayes and hir sone … to haif bind or set vp corne that same day

III. With adverbs.

11. To wesche away. a. tr.Of water, etc.: To wash away, carry away in its flow. Also fig.b. Of a person: To wash away, to clean away. c. fig.To wash away (sin, etc.), esp. with Christ or His blood as the subject. d. intr.To wash away, disappear. In fig. context.a. c1420 Wynt. ii 1342.
He bade his sone [sc. Icarus] in to the flycht Hald ewyn … Noucht … to law, for dowt the flud Sulde wesche away his fethrys gude 1513 Doug. ix xiii 88.
He … lap into the flude … All blude and slauchter away was weschyn clene 1533 Boece 513b.
Be invndacion & spate of the ryveris of Tay and Awmond … the wallis of the towne … war vndermyndit and weschin away c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1530.
Be that furious flude … Frome clattryng cragis, gret and gray, The erth was weschin quyte away 1574 Inverness Rec. I 239.
That the Wattir of Nes be the occasioun of fluidis … is able for to wesche … away the croft 1657 Fife Synod 180.
Some fence to preserve thair toun from the invndatioun of the sea, by which ane great pairt … is in hazard to be waschin awayfig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 488.
See that Christ lay the ground-stone of your profession; for wind and rain and spaits will not wash away His building 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 229.
I fear not that too great speats of love wash away the growing cornb. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1039.
Byde still vpon this bent, And fra ȝour browis wesche away the blude 1513 Doug. iii x 16.
Of hys e dolp the flowand blude and attir He wysch [Sm. wische] away al with the salt wattir 1667–70 Lauder Jrnl. 200.
They say their are blood yet to be sein on the wall of the house … wher he and his brothers ware slain which cannot be washen awayc. 1490 Irland Mir. I 123/22.
The cyrogrof and lettir of perdicioune of humane linage, maid to the innemy be auld Adam and his wif, He sall distroy and wesch away be his gret merit and precius blude 1490 Irland Mir. III 71/1.
The passioun of Jhesu and his precius blud ordand to clenge the synnar and wesch away his syn a1561 Norvell Meroure 25b.
Frelie Thou wishe awaye, with Thy sweit bloode, The whole iniquitie, that came of Adames race 1562-3 Winȝet II 22/24.
Be our bluid we hef weschin away the slawchtir of the confessouris c1590 Fowler II 59/13.
In the blood of Christ our sinnes ar waschin away 1596 Dalr. II 292/12.
His hail hous was gretlie accuiset of this cryme, quhilk bleck he intendis to wasche away throuch his preclair actes and duchtie deides 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 392.
Gif … he be pollutit with ony daidlie sinne, it may be first waschin awayd. a1568 Bann. MS 77a/62.
This warldis vane gloir … weschis away as snaw dois with the rane

12. To wesche doun, to wash away. Also fig. c1650 Spalding I 81.
Thair fell out in Moray ane cruell weit dynging on nicht and day … wateris and burnes flowit wp over bank over bray, corne milnes and milne houssis waschin dounfig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) ix 45.
Bapteme, … quhilk all my syn wesche doun