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 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tehe, Tee hee, Teghe heghe, Tighee, Tahie, Tohie, interj. [ME and e.m.E. tehee, te he(e, ti he (all Chaucer), ta ha (1529), ty hy (1588).] A representation of derisive laughter — a1500 Peblis to Play 205.
Than all the wenschis te he thai playit c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 41/22.
Tohie [M. tehe, Braye Lute Book 50b, teghe heghe], quod scho, and gaif ane gawf a1568 Jok & Jynny 13.
Te he [Watson's Coll. iii 47, tee hee] quod Jynny keik keik I se ȝow 1685 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World 233.
A great multitude of people stentoriously laughing and gapping with tahies of laughter 1698 Kirkwood Plea before Kirk 73.
A tighee; or, a very hearty gaff of laughter