Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Allay, Alay, n.¹ Also: ala, alla; alye; ailay, aillay, aylaye. Cf. Alley. [ME. alaye, aleye, OF. allée, alée, walking, walk.]

1. A garden walk or path. Also attrib. in allay hedge. c1475 Wall. xi. 21.
Hagis, alais, be laubour that was thar, [Thay] fulȝeit and spilt 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 65.
To four werkmen … seruand the gardnaris … and parand & dychtand allayis 1541 Reg. Cupar A. II. 208.
He … sall wphald the heggis, dykis, and alais … within his boundis of the said ȝard 1575 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 91.
The College yaird that lyis on the north syde of the Ala 1593 Reg. Great S. 9/2.
Longum diambulachrum the lang alay infra australe pomarium de Falkland 1605–6 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 555.
The Principall … viseyit the College dyke in the Vicaris Aillayis 1615–6 Ib. 566.
vij hundir … thornis to be the allay hedge in the College 1627 Reg. Great S. 389/2.
Dimidium horti et pomaril … jacens ex boreali parte lie midalay ejusdem

2. Allay bowlis, the game of bowls. 1586 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 449.
In tyme of preacheing. . that nane be fund ... at the ailay bowlis 1586 Ib. 463.
That na tavernis, hostlarie, caitchpules, nor aylaye bowlis, be frequentet or haldin oppin the said tyme 1601 Elgin Rec. II. 89.
For passing the tyme at the ailay bowlis on Sonday the tyme of sermone 1602 Ib. II. 102.
John Gauld at the alla boulis the tym of sermon 1620 Chron. Perth 81.
To play at the alye bowlls