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.

Congie, n. Also: congye, coingie, congey. [e.m.E. and ME. congie, congye, ME. congeye (late 14th c.), OF. congie (F. congé).]

1. Leave or permission; a permit. 1533 Boece ii. x. 77.
To euery persoun granting congie to sacrifye to the god quham he plesit best Ib. x. xv. 388.
Gregoure … to Inglismen … grantit congie to remane 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 101.
The sclander gevin be him for taking away of mair quheit nor wes contenit in his congye

2. Leave to depart. 1533 Boece iv. xviii. 159 b.
The kingis … granting congie to the heraldis Ib. viii. xiv. 283 b.
Ambrois … grantit fre congie to departe 1533 Bell. Livy II. 278/116.
Sindri men of armes … testifyit Ceso was with thame … but ony congey or pasport to depart 1558-66 Knox I. 263.
Althought that thei gat thare congie fra the Courte, yit thei forget to returne to Scotland a 1591 Dundee B. Laws 374.
It is statuted … that at his parting of the town he tak the Deacons coingie

b. To tak congie, to take leave. 1533 Boece vii. iii. 225 b.
Fergus, opulent be riche pray, tuke congie fra king Athaulph

c. (See quotation.) 1609 in Burt Lett. (1818) II. App. 243.
Whatsoeuer person or persons … shall happin to be found … craving meat, drink, or other geir from the tenants or inhabitants thaireof by way of Congie as they term it