A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456-1662
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Stormy, -ie, adj. Also: storme, stromye. [ME and e.m.E. storemiȝ (a1200), stormi (Cursor M.), stormy (Rolle); Storm(e n.]
1. a. Of a season, time, the weather, etc.: Characterised by storms. b. Of seas or spray: Tempestuous, storm-tossed or -driven.a. 1456 Hay II 6/12.
And sa befell that in the samyn tyme befell a grete stormy wynter 1513 Doug. ii ii 100.
Sen this hors [sc. the Trojan horse] was heir … The stormy clowdis our al the ayr gan rowt 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 92 (Sm.).
Agayne the storme wyntre for to strive 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4507.
Insaciable merchant men … sailis in to the stormy blastis In wintter to get gritter castis 1590 Criminal Trials I ii 213.
He … raisit tempest and stormie wedder, as the Dewill himselff blawing in the air 1596 Dalr. I 288/16.
Quhen nathing was seine bot stormie windis, cludis and rane 1596 Dalr. I 288/26.
Nathir had the wirmes eitne his flesche, nor stormie tempest of the tyme had deformet it, nor the place quhair it lay bleknet the colour 1629 Haddington Corr. 157.
Gif this euel storme vother had not hindirit me 1662 Law Memor. lxxi.
The end of their meitting was to raise stormie weather to hinder boats from the killing fishing(b) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 168.
The … sterris all … Tyll errand schyppis quhilks ar the souer gyde, Conuoyand thame, vpone the stromye nychtb. 1513 Doug. x iv 86.
Throw fludis of the stormy see 1531 Bell. Boece I xx.
Eftir lang travell be tempestious and storme seis, he arrivit 1562-3 Winȝet I 96/17. c1590 J. Stewart 62/185.
Lyk ane rock firm situat in the sie Sustening stres of stormie stouris hie c1590 Fowler I 229/1.
The stormye sees Quhase wawes uer high lyke hills and law lyk hell 1626 Garden Worthies 111.
Lyke a tall shipe in a stormie tide
c. Frosty, icy. Cf. Storm(e n. 2 b. a1568 Bell. in Bannatyne MS 4a/22.
The frosty nicht … Hir mantill quhyt spred on the tendir flouris … Quhen Priapus with stormy weid oppres Requeistit me … To rest ane quhyle amyd his gardingis bare
2. Associated with or predictive of storms or turbulence. lit. or fig. 1513 Doug. i viii 73.
Suddanly The flude boldnyt, and stormy Orion Amang blynd bankis cachit ws onon a1568 Bell. in Bannatyne MS 367a/11.
Quhill … stormy Chyron with his bow and arrowis Hes all the cludis of the hevin schorne 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 773.
Anone thay spy into the firmament Ane stormie sterne that troublit thair intent
b. In fig. context: Storm-induced; that proceeds from or is caused by storms. a1568 Bell. in Bannatyne MS 6b/207.
Quhay salis lang in hie prosperitie Ar sone ouerset be stormy violence
3. fig. Violently perturbed, severely troubled; turbulent, in origin or effect. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 541.
Now is my breist with stormie stoundis stad a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 15 (Asl.).
The cairfull cummer … Inwolwis all stait … And as the se is euer in commocioun In stormy rage & perrellous perplexite a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 239 (Asl.).
Of covatis I wyte the rafand rage In the vnstable sterand stormy stowris a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 688 (Asl.).
Principale … to caus men to pennans thaim applie And of this warld to ces the stormy rage a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1042 (Asl.).
Compaciens persand in to my spreit remanis With sterand reuth and thrilland stormy stoundis a1500 Quare of Jelusy 549.
Thy stormy thoucht ay walking to and fro As doth the schip amang the wawis dryve a1568 Bannatyne MS 53b/29.
My stormy face schew weill than myne entent
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"Stormy adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/stormy>
