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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wed(e, v.¹ Also: weid(e, wead, weed, wade. P.p. also wed(d, wade. [ME and e.m.E. wede(n, OE wéodian.]

1. tr.a. To clear (a garden, etc.) of unwanted plants; to thin or weed (woodland). b. To remove (weeds) (fra a crop). c. To separate (chaff) from corn.a. pres. 1456 Hay I 162/19.
A gude gardenare mon quhilum tak the gude herbis amang the evill, quhen he wedis his herbare 1684 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 126.
To weide and make their lands suficentlie clean and frede of goold if it be possible to be wade 1691 Foulis Acc. Bk. 137.
To 5 women wedin the yardp.p. 1542 Reg. Cupar A. II 210.
Twa beddis of ȝoung eschis … weill wed and nurist 1659 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 226.
[The wood] quhich hath bein cuttit be his umquhill father … and ever since sen wed and cuttit be them 1678 Sc. Ant. IX 107.
To buy eal to the men that is weading the woodb. a1568 Bann. MS 80a/46.
Thus weidit is the poppill fra the corne 1671 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 35.
The goole to be wedd with all diligencec. 1572 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxviii 95.
So weid the calf from the corn

2. fig.a. To remove, to weed out (evil persons, sin, etc.). b. intr.To search through (a document) for matter requiring removal or attention.a. 1456 Hay II 29/2.
Evill men suld be wedit out 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 4.
That … wyce and syne may be wed owt and pluckit wp be the rutis 1686 Ellon Presb. 175.
Wades out all thes excrescencies which disturbe nationesb. 16… Edinb. City Archives Letters II 36.
He weeded through the rest of the accompt and did not stop at any other article in charge or discharge