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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nois, Noys, Noyis, Noyes, n. Also: nois(s)e, noys(s)e; noice, noyce; noyise, noyeis; noyese, noyas. [ME. and e.m.E. noise, noyse (Ancr. R.), north. ME. nois (Cursor M.), noys (c 1460), late ME. noyce (c 1450), e.m.E. noyes (a 1548), OF. noise (11th c.), noyse, nose discord accompanied by noise.]

1. Loud outcry, clamour, din. Also plur.See also, for further examples, Brute n. 3, Cry n. 1, Din n. 1 (2).(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 410.
Than thai of Rome wittinge had That sic nois and cryis wes mad For the appostulis Ib. l. 36. 1456 Hay I. 57/31.
To se how the cry and the noys rais in the toun amang the peple a1500 Colk. Sow i. 197.
A new noyment and nois With a rumour vprois 1511 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 107.
Throu multitud of peple that cumis in the consale hous makand gret noys and misreule 1513 Doug. vi. xv. 46.
How gret brute, noys and sovn 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. iii. 99.
Tumultu, with ane noyse 1570 Leslie 215.
Laird Wemis with that company … set upoun the ennemyis afrount with a gret fureous noyce 1617 Dalyell Darker Superst. 85.
Ane grit noyse maid be foullis on the hyll 1651 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 640.
Noisseplur. 1456 Hay I. 58/34.
The doggis … maid sa grete noysis and dolouris that it was like a greting(b) 1375 Barb. v. 108.
In the castell the Lorde Persy Herd weill the noyis and the cry Ib. xiii. 157.
Sic gyrnyng, granyng and so gret A noyis ?1438 Alex. i. 1429. c1475 Wall. vi. 258.
Aferd thai war with hidwis noyis and dyne Ib. v. 183. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 227.
Of laidis and lownis thair ryssis sic ane noyis Id. xxxiii. 125. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 136.
Quhare gretest noyis was herd Ib. 277. Ib. II. 145; etc. Id. Ib. (M) I. 131.
With huge noyis and murdir on athir syde 1533 Boece i. vii. 51.
Be the pepill present was ane noyis rasit that nocht alanerlie war thai reddy [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 68.
Thair wes the noyis of pepill casting the glassis with wyne(c) a1500 Bk. Chess 328.
Abone his hed a richt gret noyes thai mak Thai stampe thai dwnt [etc.] Ib. 520. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 227/6.
He herd … clamoure and noyes of pepil applying to his opinioun 1600-1610 Melvill 134.(d) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 90.
The cry and noyas rais … throw the Cannogait a1578 Pitsc. II. 264/2.
Heirand this noyas and seing the fyre ryse in the towne

b. A cry, shout or din made by a single person or animal. 1375 Barb. x. 411.
He maid na noys cry na sowne a1400 Leg. S. ix. 235.
The fellone fende … with gret noyse & ilmowtht late … held his gate c1450-2 Howlat 47.
Nerar that noys in nest I nechit in ane c1475 Wall. v. 1030.
Than Wallace said, ‘Mademe, your noyis lat be’ a1500 Bk. Chess 563.
And ony noys or word cum of thi hed a1538 Abell 43 b.
The incube … passit awa with sic a cry and noyes at [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1777. c1590 J. Stewart II. 209 § 37.

2. A loud cry or sound expressive of rejoicing, praise or grief.(1) a1400 Leg. S. x. 360.
Noys he mad, The apostil lowand alway [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 113.
With noyis and soun of joy 1535 Stewart 11822. Ib. 31098.
For blythnes than thai sang … Quhill that thair noyes rang vp to the hevin 1540 Lynd. Sat. 145.
With ane rycht mirrie noyse 1567 G. Ball. 101.
And all trew hartis sall joy to heir this noyis [D. noyce] c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 5 a.
All with one woyce with ane great noyce praysed God(2) ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) ii. 1685.
On ather half was noyes and greif 1513 Doug. xi. ix. 30.
With noys lamentabill 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2950.
The noyis the cry the sturt and the greting a1578 Pitsc. II. 38/17.
To cray witht great noyse and din 1598 Melvill Propine 78.
His bitter teares and noyse 1590 St. A. Kirk S. 674.
Quhair the said Elene wes … makand great duill and nois

3. a. Noisy boasting or bragging; boast. ?1438 Alex. i. 3034.
I knaw he is nane of thay That mekill noyis and bost will may 1662 Carstairs Lett. 90.
I desyre to make no noyce of books for the little I read

b. (A) quarrel or dispute; strife, disturbance. 1456 Hay I. 115/10. Ib. 179/28.
All debatis, noysis, and ryotis that in the ost is movit Ib. 245/12.
For men may ger a knave move a ryote or a noyse that nane may do with 1494 Loutfut MS. 21 b.
[A corbell] fechtis and takis noise with al bestis and foullis bot with the rennart Ib. iii b.
That na man be sa hardy to mak noyes nor truble signe no taking be toung heid hand or fut 1622-6 Bisset II. 248/8.
Gif any … drink drunkin and mak noyese and stryfe

4. The agreeable noise of birds or of musical instruments. 1456 Hay II. 96/30.
The soundis and melodious noys of divers instrumentis of musyk 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 525. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 25.
Nevir suetar noys wes hard … Na maid this mirry gentill nychtingaill 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 152 b.
The multitude … singing plesand noyis and soundis 15.. Clar. ii. 1420.
Up raise the noise of birdis upon loft Ib. 1638. Ib. iv. 2416.
For noyise of organis all the collage rang Ib. v. 1954. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 187.
Men on far mycht heir the birdis sounde Quhose noyis did to the sterrye heuin redounde 1622-6 Bisset II. 388/22.
The stringis of the ane instrument beand twiched … the uthir will … be moved to gif a sound to the samin harmony or noyes of the uther

5. A loud noise made by something inanimate; a din; a noise of any kind. ?1438 Alex. i. 2514.
The noyis was great of speiris breking 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 372.
Inwith the water the nois dois not abound c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 56.
Ane lawland ers wald mak a bettir noys 1513 Doug. iv. v. 68. Ib. viii. vii. 17. 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. v. 555.
Noyse Id. Detect. (1727) 23.
The noyes of the fall of the hous 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 337.
A grit noyse … whidder … of speiche, of grayning or rumbling I can not tell a1578 Pitsc. II. 81/6. 1630 Justiciary Cases I. 145.
At the incasting quhairof in the fyre it gaif ane grit noyse or crak 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 50.
The sound and noice

b. A sound which is not remarkably loud. — a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 121.
Thane of the noys of his fet He waknyt

c. Also but, withoutin etc. noys, also but noys making, but ony noyis. 1375 Barb. v. 91.
And till the toun soyn cuming ar thai Sa preuely bot noys making That [etc.] Ib. xix. 535.
For-out noyis c1475 Wall. iv. 776.
Fra him thai socht with outyn noyis or dyn To that sammyn hous 1513 Doug. iv. x. 6.
All feildis still, but othir noys or sown 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6026.
And with the key the dure he hes maid fast But ony noyis

6. Report noised abroad; rumour. 1513 Doug. vii. ii. 84.
And tho belyve dywlgat round abowt is The noys and rumour throu the Troiane rowtis 1527 Douglas Corr. 122.
And now the noyis is the Duk of Albanie procuris saulff-conduct … to returne 1531 Bell. Boece I. 87.
Guiderius gaderit ane army … afore ony nois of his rebellion war knawin in Rome 1542 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 31.
The rumor and noyes of the cuntre 1558-66 Knox I. 92.
The noyse of the death of King James divulgat … the hartes of men begane to be disclossed 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. v. 369.
Murmure, noyse 1600-1610 Melvill 142.
All the counsell and courtes … war filled with fear noyes and bruttes 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 8.
If ones ther be the leist noyeis of shipes or men to cum heire ther is no hoope att all 1682 Lauder Notices Affairs I. 358.
Immediatly on the noise of any field conventicle or rising, to dissipat them