A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1600-1658
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Hairsay, -sey, n. Also: -sye, -saw; harsay; hersay. [Hair n.1 and Say n.] A species of say, prob. partly made with hair. 1600 Tailors Acc. Bk. MS. 5 b.
To the broudster for outcutting of … sleivis … to the hersay goun 1600 Ib.
For making of ȝour hersay goun 1610 Edinburgh Testaments XLVI. 166.
Tua ellis half ell hairsay 1610 Ib. 253.
Aucht elnes of hairsay 1612 Bk. Rates 326.
Sayes, called hairsayes 1618 Edinburgh Testaments L. 108.
Ane wob of hairsaw contening tuentiefoure elnes 1624 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 259.
Ane fyne hairsye lume with the furniture thairof 1627 Brechin Testaments IV. 291.
Threittein elnis of hairsey claytht 1658 Ib. VI. 157.
Ane gowne of harsay
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"Hairsay n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/hairsay>
