Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WAY, int. [we:]

1. A call to a sheepdog to make a detour or move away from the sheep. Gen.Sc. Also way by, -out, -wide.Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 77:
'Way wide there, fetch them tae the fank!wm.Sc. 1934 K. R. Archer Jock Tamson's Bairns 7:
Wear them in noo' roon' the haugh; Way, Glen, way!s.Sc. 1964 Scottish Field (Oct.) 91:
His commands are always short and sharp: “Way by! ” “In ahint! ” “Roond aboot!”

2. As in Eng., a call to a horse to stop (Lnk. 1973). Hence way-hie, turn left!, way-hup, turn right! (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein). See Hi, Hup.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 3:
Way-wo' haud still, wo man.