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

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Gys(e, Gyis, Gise, n. Also: guys(e. [ME. gise, gyse (c 1300), guyse (c 1275), OF. guise.]

1. Manner or way of acting or doing something; fashion, habit, or custom.Very frequently used by Douglas as a rhyme-word.(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 95.
Pro sepultura ordino On the new gys 1513 Doug. i. xi. 9.
Amang provd tapetis … Hir place scho tuke, as was the guys that tyde 1513 Ib. v. v. 2.
Eneas … Callys thame forrowth hym al, as wes the gys 1535 Stewart 4769.
On euerie syde, as that tyme wes the gys Preikand in preis c1650 Spalding II. 401.
This govkit gys wes begvn be oure bally to schow his love to the good caus(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 102.
To dame Venus … Thay sang ballettis in lufe, as was the gyse 1513 Doug. vi. iii. 143.
With clene wattir … Strinkland ane litill dewing, as was the gyse 15.. Clariodus iv. 2404.
Full gudlie was the maner and the gyse Of the triumph was maid at thair crouning 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 162.
As that time was the gyse Lang time efter the empreour maid murning 1603 Philotus xxv.
The supper done, than vp ȝe ryse, To gang ane quhyle as is the gyse 1622-6 Bisset I. 50/12.
Howbeit ȝe dreid, that this new gyse of iudgement be above the auld custome of oure eldaris(c) 1513 Doug. i. iv. 55.
To the madynnys of Tyre this is the gyis. To beir a cays of arowis on this wys 1513 Ib. iii. vi. 31.
Helenus than, eftir the rytis and gyis, The ȝong bestis slew in sacryfys 1535 Stewart 4354.
Solempnitlie … in sacrifice Richt glorious, as that tyme wes the gyis 1535 Ib. 8069.
Scho gaif his supper of ane gudlie gyis c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iv. 593.
As thay expedient Thocht for the time, as the vse is and gyis 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 232.
Leue ȝour ceremonys of ȝour awin fund gyis(d) 1513 Doug. iv. viii. 107 (Sm).
With … festuall burgeonis arrayit, on thar gise 1513 Ib. v. ii. 71.
Eftir thair payane ryte and gise 1531 Bell. Boece I. 69.
Efter he had done the obsequies … effering to the gise of thay dayis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3258.
As it effeiris sic men, and is the gise 1560 Ib. 5657.
As his vse was aind gise

b. The fashion of a certain country or people. a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 326.
Sum vsit the dansis … Of Cipres and Boheme, … Sum countifutit the gys of Spane 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 76.
Our hedis befor the altar we array With valys brown, eftir the Troiane gys 1513 Ib. viii. viii. 11.
Apon his feyt hys meit schoys hote War buklyt on the gys of Tuscany 15.. Clariodus v. 279.
Rich talbart sleves … behind hir trailling syde, As it was the gyse of Ingland tho 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 7141.
Madame, … cleith ȝow vp richelie, As is the gise and vse of my countrie 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiv. 1.
Quho list to mark the Scottisch gyse, Or knaw the customes of thair kyndis

2. Fashion of, or in, dress or make-up. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 164 (Ch.).
His garmound and his gyis ful gay of gray c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 26.
Heilie harlottis on hawtane wyis Come in with mony sindrie gyis 1531 Bell. Boece II. 232.
He … inquirit quhat erandis movit him to cum in sic gise 1535 Stewart 1036.
Makand thame garmentis of ane gudlie gys 1540 Lynd. Sat. 203.
Cled scho is on the new gyse 15.. Clariodus iv. 967.
The Queine commendit the gyse of thair clothing 1603 Philotus xxix.
Ȝour gownes ay the new guyse, … louse with plets and plyis, Or clasped clois behind

3. A company in disguise; a masque or masquerade. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 10.
He bad gallandis ga graith a gyis, And kast vp gamountis in the skyis 15.. Clariodus iv. 2466.
In come ane gyse of small chyldreine, … all transfigurat As wolfes full wyld 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 333.
Ȝe may be callit byschoppis countrafait, As gallandis buskit for to mak ane gyse 1572 Satirical Poems xxxviii. 1.
Now Katherine de Medicis hes maid sic a gyis, To tary in Paris the papistes ar tykit 1600-1610 Melvill 81.
The gentilmen … haid a gyse and farce to play befor the King 1629 Mure True Crucifixe 449.
Dumbe doctours … did devise Guyses to gaze on, showes men's soules to feed

b. An affair. c1650 Spalding I. 298.
Monro, with more number of men, cums forduard to this guys c1650 Ib. II. 75.
Thay ar examinat, and denyit all, as they who in end proved most innocent of this gys

4. Form or shape. 1456 Hay I. 292/2.
He is bot in guys of a king, and … takis bot a croune allanerly a1540 Freiris Berw. 460 (M).
To translait him in ane vther gyse, Fra his awin kynd in till ane vther stait