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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Holy, Holly, a. Also: holie, hollie, houlye. [e.m.E. holy, holie, holly, freq. used in place of Haly a. after 1550.] Holy, in various contexts.(a) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1.
The holie man Job 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 118.
Ane chellice of the holy blud c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 314.
Most holy God-makairs 1558-66 Knox II. 432.
The speiking of the Holie Goist Ib. cxvi. 2.
He … that luifis not … holy kirk a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxiii. 17.
To reid … the holie writ a1578 Pitsc. II. 68/1.
As for holie watter c1590 J. Stewart 250 § 200.
His holie voundis(b) a1578 Pitsc. I. 138/28.
Wnder the pain of curssing … of hollie kirk Ib. 349/26.
God and the hollie gost 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 236.
The holly ghost Ib.
For most holly ends(c) c1590 Fowler II. 91/21.
Seing they ar … by a houlye providence reuled