Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HI, int., v. Also hie, high, hy(e), hey. Sc. usages. [hɑɪ]

I. int. 1. A call to a horse, with varying meanings in different districts, but gen. as a command to turn to the left (Sc. 1869 J. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 723; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Ork., n. and em.Sc., Wgt., s.Sc. 1957) or towards the speaker. Freq. in comb. as hie-here, hie-in, hey-up, hie-wo(e) (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Sc. 1856 N. and Q. (Ser. 2) I. 395; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Per., Kcb., Uls. 1957).Bwk. 1809 J. Kerr Agric. Bwk. 503:
Formerly, in speaking to their horses, carters employed hap and wind in ordering them to either side, now mostly high-wo and jee.Kcd. 1813 G. Robertson Agric. Kcd. 424:
The horse must do what he is commanded, without other direction than the weysh, (pronounced long, and to hold off) and the come hither; and the hy, (go on), and the woy (stand still).Sc. 1851 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 160:
(Language to horses.) To come towards you. Hie is used in all the border counties of England and Scotland; Hie here, come ather, are common in the midland counties of Scotland.m.Lth. 1856 J. Ballantine Poems 295:
And “High! gee, wo!” each ploughman cries. Now, “Hup!” they're off, — God speed them all!Gall. 1881 L. B. Walford Dick Netherby vii.:
Hey-up, Jenny lass! Gang forrard.Abd. 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 32:
Cry “Hie” an' “Wo” an' “Weesh” again to guide the steppin' mear.Knr. 1925 H. Haliburton Horace 82:
An' noo ye hear their Hi! woa! h'up!Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (20 Feb.):
If the ploughman wanted the team to turn to the left, he called — “Hi,” but his grandfather would have cried, “Come aither.”Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iv.:
Stan, meer, stan, fat 'e deevil are ye stannin at? Hie here.

2. With on: a call to dogs to seek out game (Kcb. 1957). Also found in Eng. dials.Abd. 1882 W. Forsyth Writings 49:
The dog . . . halted at the point, having scented game ahead. “Hie on,” cried Sandy. The dog did as he was bid, and up sprang a brace of grouse.

II. v. To direct a horse to the left by using this call (Cai., Ags., Rxb. 1957).Sc. 1889 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 109:
The half of one ridge is ploughed with the half of the adjoining ridge by always hieing the horses.