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

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

Te, Tee, Tey(e, Tie, n. Also: tei, ty(e, tay. Pl. also tais, taysis, tyees, thois. [ME and e.m.E. teȝ (Layamon), teiȝ (c1290), tey (1465), tye (1485-6), tie (a1555), OE téah, téaᵹ, Anglian tǽᵹ, téᵹ, ON taug rope.]

1. A fastening. a. For armour, etc. b. Part of a horse's harness, collocated with saddle (riding- and pack-) and with bridle: ? A side-rein, breast-plate or similar strap. Sometimes in collocation with curpell, ? the strap connecting the loop part of a crupper to the saddle. See also curpall teis (Curpall n. b).a. 1460 Hay Alex. 1637.
The te that ouir his hals was cast Quhare with the scheild was couplit till him brast 1460 Hay Alex. 1929, 1930.
Than fell his helm in tua pairtis adoun … The tane half held the tee that fell bakwart The vther held the tee that fell forwardeb. a1500 Sir Eger 1527.
He got never such a strake … The tees of the sadle down yeed. Or else he had born down his steed 1494–5 Treas. Acc. I 228.
To mak knoppis and fassis to the harnysing of briddillis and teis, xxxij pirnis of gold 1498 Treas. Acc. I 388.
For ane harnas sadill, … vj brassis, ane courpale, ane tee and thre girthis to the samyn sadill, xxiiij s. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 206.
Item, for ane molat bridill, and ane tee 1531–2 Treas. Acc. VI 45.
To be bridillis and teis … ij elnis and quartar welluett 1537 Treas. Acc. VI 335.
Thre elnis canves to lyne the teis of the mulatis 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 11.
For the fassoun of ane tee of velvot and ane bred hyngar, and for the ledder of the samin 1540 Maxwell Mem. 408.
Ane hors hows, … ane ledder tee, … ane ledder cwrpull 1568 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 658/1.
For the mending of the curpillis, and teis of the charet gair 1598 Perth Hammermen 103.
Na brother of craft mak brydillis teyis, or curpells of red Dunblain beltis to ony man 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 74.
For 6 girthis to go about the laid saidles iii lib. For 6 curpellis and sex teis to the saidis saidles iii lib. xii s. 1664 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 30.
Hir ryding saidell with the haill furniter brydell tei and crupell and girds(b) 1576 Edinb. Test. IV 133b.
Thrie blak brydillis & teis price of the pece xliij d. … ane reid brydill & tie 1637 Elphinstone Mun. 25.
Ane blak welvat brydill, heid staill and tie knapit withe blak silk 1657 Balfour Ann. II 197.
The bosses of brydle, curper and tye, being richly sett with emralds 1685 Thanes of Cawdor 370.
For ane bit with boasses, … ane tie and curper(c) 1529 Treas. Acc. V 370.
Tua braid tais to the grete sadill x s. 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Meninx, the tay of the harnes

2. A tie or link connecting buildings. 1462 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i 455 (27 Aug.).
The said Dauid sal pay to the said Will for reperatoun maid be him of befor on the said gavill teys

3. A tie of some sort used in mining. 1680 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. 80a.
For inputting 10 iron tyes in the pans at 5 s. the peice

4. A part of a ship's cordage.‘Single pieces of rope of heavier size than is used for the tackle, and equivalent in strength to its parts. The tye ends on blocks through which the tross or halyard works.’ Treas. Acc. IV Glossary s.v. Teis.(a) 1332 Exch. R. I 414.
Compotum prepositorum burgi de Karale … Et pro sexcentis taysis cordarum 1488 Acta Aud. 113/2.
The teis of the schip callit the Katrine 1496 Treas. Acc. I 300.
To Dauid Gourlay [skipper], for making of a bonat and the lek to it, with smal takil and a tee 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 300.
Tua cordalis, x trosis, iij teis, xxiiij dussone of uthir pece cordalis 1513 Doug. v xiv 6.
Than al sammyn, … Dyd heys thar sail, and trossyt down thar teys 1589 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 1a.
For talone to our teyes 1598 Melvill Seamans Shout 144.
The ship made snog; sheates smyttes and ties all fast 1600-1610 Melvill 258.
The tye of the Einglisman's mean seale 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 22b.
For 8 tyees vark 4 men 20 s. Scots ik tye 32 li.(b) 1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 27b.
xiiii baletis and thois and xiii pound weycht at iii frankis xi s. the honderis

b. attrib. With blok. 1594 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 2b.
For ane teye blok doubell xliiii s. 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 16b.
For ane teye bloke

5. A fishing line.[Also in the later dial. See SND Tie n.¹ 3.] a1595 Descr. Isles MS 23.
Salmond … are slane with teeis or bastounis, & hes na uther craft nor ingyne to slay thame

6. fig. a. Something that binds or restrains; an obligation. b. Something that connects or unites; a bond of affection.a., b. 1639 Baillie I 116.
To be absolved from the tye of laws, that nomothetick power 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 130.
Our band to the cause is farr to be preferred before any civile or naturall tye to any noblemen whatsomever 1643 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 374.
Mr. Nye spake much against a tye to any psalter 1651 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 646.
Our obligations and tayes, in the covenant, of mutual aid and assistance 1655 Stirling B. Rec. I 217.
As a band or tay upoun any of the incorporatioun for payment of a stipend a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 94.
This tye of a vow 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 623.
[He may have liberty] to goe home to his countrey … upon any ty or bands to be laid upon himself to return whenever he shall be called 1673 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 193.
The sacred tye of marriage 1676 Douglas Corr. 276.
If religione and vertue war nott tays strong enough c1679 Red Bk. Menteith II 171.
The tays of gratitude and friendship ar stronger in generous mynds then those of nature 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 18 Sept.
The presbitry … had laid tyes upon Mr. John Hamilton that he should not goe over to Ireland at this time