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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Unesy,) Unesie, adj. (adv.). Also: uneasy, -ie. [ME and e.m.E. unese (c1290), unesy(e, uneasy (all Trevisa), uneasie (a1548); Esy adj.]

A. adj. 1. Difficult, hard. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 26.
It is not vneasie to persave be thair haill progresse … that thai meane [etc.] 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Difficilis, vnesie [1617 uneasie] 1663 Lauderdale P. I 137.
That part which is writ on both sides is uneasy to read 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 86.
Whow they come be this is not uneasy to dewine, we toucht it a litle already

2. Of a thing: That causes trouble, disturbance or inconvenience (to someone); awkward, laborious. 1685 Soc. Ant. LIX 49.
How inconvenient the passage was to the pulpit being from the comon kirk door throw the whole body of the kirk & so consequently uneasy both to the minister & people a1688 Wallace Orkney (1700) 6.
The sea here is very turbulent in a storm, and uneasie even to those on land 1693 Cramond Kirk S. III 11 April.
[It] had been unreasonable in Balmerino to have demanded the entry controverted … being not only uselesse & superfluous, but uneasy & troublesome to come throw the body of a kirk, when thair is ane entry by ane isle doore 1719 Stirling B. Rec. II 162.
When souldiers quartered in this place turn sick or deseased the samen is uneasie and troublesome to the families where they are quartered

3. Of a person: Disagreeable (to another). 1685 Lauder Observes 209.
His lady … obtested him to declare, if ever shee had been uneasie to him, except in the matter of his weemen 1693 Conv. Burghs IV 182.
Wee doe not love to be uneasie to yow but complaints are given in to ws [etc.]

B. adv. Not easily (done, etc.). 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 649.
They will not suffer no grose or uneasie transportable guidis or wairis to be weyit in Leith, such as iron tackill cabillis, towes and ankeris and uthers