A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1489-1626
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Bissely, Byssely, adv. Also: bysyly; bisselie, bysselye, bissi(e)lie, bissilly; bissalie, -ly. [ME. bisily, bisyly, bysily, etc., early bisiliche. Cf. Besily.] Busily, diligently, industriously.Very frequently employed by Douglas.(a) c1420 Wynt. vi. 33.
This Pape tretyd [him] bysyly Till honowre ymage 1489 Brus vii. 421 (E).
Thai thre … wachyt him sa bysyly a1500 Doug. King Hart 55; a1500 Ib. 204.
Ane … that harknit bissely c1500-c1512 Dunb. liii. 40.
Quhen scho was danceand bysselye 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 117.
Bissely at hym inquiris he 1513 Ib. iii. v. 15.
Byssely our folkis gan to stryve 1533 Boece iv. vij. 134 b.
Voada bisselie rynnand ourthwort the armye 1535 Stewart 35989.
Rycht bisselie for to obey thé till 15.. Clariodus v. 608.
Craftismen thair worke bissielie did fyne a1568 Scott xvi. 47.
So bissely to busk I boun 1580-92 James VI Lusus R. 17.
Ilkane with uther bissilly did striue 1622-6 Bisset I. 314/28.
Bisselie examined(b) 1535 Stewart 48059.
He … richt bissalie did ryde 1535 Ib. 52242.
Thai … richt bissalie thame sped a1540 Freiris Berw. 504 (M).
Freyr Robert … turnit our the levis bissaly
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"Bissely adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bissely>
