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.
Quotation dates: 1549-1675
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Vy, v.1 Also: wy, vie, vey. [e.m.E. vie (1565), vye (c1570), vy (1689), F. envier.] To compete in some fashion. a. tr. To be a contender for (something). Also const. with the rival. Quot. 1608 may belong in c. b. With the means of furthering rivalry as object. Const. with the rival. c. To contend with another to do something. d. With clause object. Const. with the rival. e. intr. To contend with a rival (for something).a. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 64/27.
Sum of the sueit sangis that I herd … 'Stil vndir the leyuis grene' … 'Allace I vyit ȝour tua fayr ene', [etc.] 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 143.
And I preferred nor wyed neiuer in paragon onye thing with your heighness plesowrb. 1668 Fraser-Mackintosh Lett. Two Cent. 87.
As I need not offer to vie compliment in the tender and illustration of my suit with such a well qualified lady as yourselfc. 1586 Waus Corr. 369.
I can get na rycht rewle of him, bot planle uies to schut me fra my roumd. 1659 R. Moray Lett. 344.
I give you leave to vy with him which of you is farrest ben with mee. c1650 Montrose in Watson's Coll. iii 108/28.
If … in the empire of thy heart Where I should solely be Another do pretend a part And dares to vie with me ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 46.
Some ministers who wer recusants at first, afterward did vey for zeale and activitye with the first subscribents
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"Vy v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/vy_v_1>
