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. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

To-ga, v. Also: to-gay. P.p. to-gane. [ME to go (c1315) to separate, go in different directions, OE to-gán; To- prefix² and Ga v.]Cf., also, ME to go (Chaucer) interpreted (as is Barb. viii 351) by OED (To B 18) as a historical infinitive occurring in vivid narrative. (See A Middle English Syntax by T. Mustanoja 538-9 for further information and other ME examples.) Cf. also To prep. B 5 for a somewhat similar construction.

1. intr. To go away, flee. See Ga v. 2 b for further examples. 1375 Barb. viii 351.
He turnyt his bridill & to-ga For the gud king thaim presit swa 1375 Barb. ix 264.
Quhen the small folk … Saw thar lordis withdraw thaim swa Thai turnyt the bak all & to-ga And fled 1375 Barb. xvii 575.
Thai gaff the bak all and to-ga ?1438 Alex. ii 4040.
He turned his brydill and he to-ga [F. s'est arrier retourné] a1500 Henr. Fab. 296.
Thay taryit not to wesche … Bot on to ga a1500 Henr. Fab. 2158.
To gay 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4288 (Ch.).
The sow cryit guff, and I to ga, Throw speid of fute I gat awa

2. tr. To gane p.p. Worn out, of no further use. Cf. Ga v. 5 c and 6 c. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 704.
My riding geir is all to gane and spent