Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†BEY, n.1 in phr. at a bey, for mod.Eng. at bay. Milton has “a wild Beast at abbay,” but the phr. is now obs. See N.E.D., abay.Abd. after 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherd MS. 115:
Chase! that is nothing since we turned the prey, Just when they thought they had us at a bey.
