Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wy, n. Also: wye, wie, way. [ME and e.m.E. wyȝ (14th c.), wy(e, wey (all Piers Plowman), we(e (c1400), OE wiᵹa.] a. A warrior, a fighting man. b. A man, a person, a creature, chiefly in generalising contexts, as na, all, ilk wy. Also pl. without inflection. Also specifically applied to a woman. c. Applied to the Deity.a. c1450-2 Howlat 499 (A).
On Mahownis men manly he mellit, Braid throw the battallis in bront, and bur thaim bakwart. The wyis quhar the wicht went war in wa wellit a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 57.
Sen thy will is to wend, wy, now in weir, Luke that wisly thow wirk a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 151.
All the wyis I weild ar at his avne will 1535 Stewart 35513.
Aweles … With mony wy that worthie war and wycht 1535 Stewart 43276.
Mony wy that waponis weill culd weild(b) c1450-2 Howlat 539 (B).
Walit wayis [A. wyis] & wicht wirthy in weirisb. (1) c1420 Wynt. viii 2660 (A).
Was neuir wy [R. wasp, W. wif] in warlde mare wa c1450-2 Howlat 458 (A) (see Wa(y)nd v.).
Wye c1460 Consail Vys Man 124.
Be nocht yrus in cumpany, In thi defalt disples na wy a1500 Henr. Fab. 1538.
Thair is na wy that will my [sc. the lion's] harmis wreik Nor creature do confort to my croun a1500 Quare Jel. 256.
Jelousy … Quhareof eschamith every noble wy a1497, 15.. Gray MS v 36.
Man & woman & euery wicht It is na dowt we mon all dee, For ilk wy a deid is dicht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 216/19.
Wy [: by] 1513 Doug. Direct. 36.
For weill I wait our wark to mony a wy Sall … be plesand a1568 Scott x 51.
Thair is nocht wie Can estimie My sorrowpl. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 70.
Fle ill folk … Fore euir defamyt cumpany Defadis the honor of al wy [Gud Wyf & D. Fadis all honour comonly] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 65/45.
Quhair I wes hurt with jelosy And wald no luver wer bot I Now … I wald all wy Als weill as I luvit c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 160/43.
My dreme it wes so nyce Fra every wicht I hid it as a vyce Quhill I hard tell be mony suthfast wy [: sky] [etc.](2) a1568 Scott xxxi 34.
I lufe the wy Will nocht apply, Nor grant to gife me grace aganec. a1568 Scott iii 39.
Be the wy that all the warld wrocht