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 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stay, n.¹ Also: staye, stey(e. Pl. also staies. [e.m.E. staye (1524-34), stey (1537), stay (1550), staie (1572); Stay v.¹]

1. A coming to a halt, cessation (of something, a proceeding, etc.). Also to put a stay to, to bring to an end.(a) 1563–4 Breadalbane Lett. No. 22.
We farder intendis … to se a stay put to ȝour trowbillis 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 234.
The quenis maiestie … can not find … ane reasone to procure ane stay of the quene of Scottis reveneus … but that the same may be leafullie sent and disposed by hir c1590 Fowler I 383/148.
Even as the whiskinge wyndes … Amid the playne … May take no staye or holde 1622 Conv. Burghs III 130.
To doe therin as thai sall think maist meitt … for reforming … of the said tred that the said tred may floorisch and ressaive no caus of stay and ruine 1647 Boharm Kirk S. 25 Sept.
This day the thanksgiving was keepit … for the stay of the plague(b) c1590 Fowler I 182/9.
Lat all things chainge and alter without stey

b. The action of bringing (something) to a halt; the prevention (of something). 1587 Acts III 437/1.
To confer … vpone the stay of the money now current as vpone the cunȝeing of ane new money c1610 Melville Mem. 113.
They mislyking also his commyng, desyred the stay therof to be procured

c. At a stay, at a standstill, in a stationary state, not progressing. a1681 Cargill Lecture and Sermon 5.
Wad ye know when the Reformation began to be at a stand or stay, it was that day when we took the malignant party by the hand

2. A period of time of cessation of activity, trouble, etc. 1567 G. Ball. 217.
Althocht Caius Caligula … thocht himself in quyet stay, Possessing plesour for ane quhile. Ȝit his men did his deith conspyre 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 49.
Eftir that be the diligence and wisdome of the regent the cuntre wes brocht to sum stay

3. A delay, hindrance, impediment (in a proceeding). Also pl. 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 521.
Wes nocht the triall be him impedit and delayit … howbeit the petitioun wes maist ressonabill … yit could na part thairof be grantit becaus the cheif murtherare being present maid the stay 1578 Reg. Privy C. II 692.
Na stay or impediment in the offices of the Thesaurarie or Comptrollarie in passing of ony ordinar thingis a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 666 (W).
Hope and Curage … wald haist him vp the hill, But ather stop or stay 1586–7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 152.
About the 24 I think ve shall, … be at home except yit sume stey come, quilk ve luk not for 1587 Warrender P. (SHS) II 42.
After som stayis by tempest, thai landit at New Heaven 1590 Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 284.
The onelie stay I feir is the attending upoun some schippis from Scotland 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 26.
To follou nature … Quhose uill thay must obey but lett or stay 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 106/8.
Gardens, whereinto Still crookt but any staies … the courses quick 1628 Stirling's Royal Lett. I 265.
Without any of your lettis, stayes, trubles, imprestis of thare men or any other hinderance whatsoeur a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 207.
It was night before they came thither … because of the stayes she made by the way, either looking for some relief by the Hamiltons … or not liking to be gazed on by the multitude

4. The action or fact of remaining (in a place); the occupying of a place (for a period); a period of residence. b. The place occupied. 1594 Warrender P. (SHS) II 270.
Gif any day wes omitit quhairin we haif nocht doun sum necessar service, it wes only be our stey in Aberdein foir leik of silver 1625 Justiciary Cases I 24.
In cuming sa far frome thair awin housis to the burgh of Edinburgh to the keiping of this Justice court and lang stay thairintill 1638 Baillie I 145.
We could not conceave bot his stay with us was with the allowance of both 1641 Baillie I 368.
The Moderator, desyreing Mr. George's stay still in Fyfe for the use of St. Andrewes 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 41.
It is wrettin to Wm. Thomsone to come home befoir the parliament. Nether are they pleasit with his stey ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 20.
This proclamatione was seconded with another, which might tacke away all excuse of stay from many and lyckwayes necessitate them for to be gone from Edinburgh ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 64.
The Comissioner called the noblemen asyde … leaving the two other estates … sitting in the parliament house who seemed to be amazed at such a … procedure. Therfor they depute certaine of ther number to enqwyre … the reasone of the separatione and stay of the nobilitye 1670 Butler Leighton 483.
To my own motions or stay, … I am in a most quiet indifferencyb. 1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 61.
Andro Hendersoun is ordanit to be rentalit in his fadderis stey in quhais place the townschip grantit thame to haif resauit and admittit him conform to the rentall a1577 Waus Corr. 165.
I have directit this bearar to say that he is comitt fra [etc.] … to the effeict ye may gif outt that your erand is to Edinbruche; And so to avoid … suspicione … Ye sall als att your coming heir resave ane vther lettir from ane vther vnknawin bearar as yif it war ane stay

5. A means of stopping, a brake; a cause of stopping, an obstacle. 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (STS) 403.
That it may be ane stay and brydill to reteyne & hald bak the wickit & vngodlie from all wickitnes a1568 Bann. MS 82a/22.
Tyme steilith frome ws and will byd at no stey 1581 Burne Disput. 3b.
[The question is] gif thair be onie stay quhy he sould not properlie be callit iust a1589 Maxwall in Paisley Mag. (1828) 385.
Death is … a stedfast stay to commoun wealles 1602 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 185.
The staye wes the tempestuouse wadder and gryte rivar … fillit with yce and snaw 1605 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 74.
The inhabilite of my bodie being the onlie stay of my nocht presence at that last consell day 1609 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire I 180.
Margaret Scot … answered she gave nae drink nor charming but only ane to stem blood with … Our Lady went into the flood, And fand three steyes of Christis blood