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

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

Wyndy, -ie, adj. Also: windy, -ie, vyndy, -ie, wondie, vundie; (windé, windi, wyndé, wyndi, also ? pl. windes). [ME and e.m.E. windi (Wyclif), wyndy (1390), windy (c1450), windie (1590), OE windiᵹ.]

1. Of places. a. Exposed to the wind, frequently windy. Also in place-names and in fig. context. 1165–1214 Liber Melros 157.
Walter de Windeshoure 1260–8 Reg. Episc. Glasg. I 175.
In terris de Tor seu windilawes ?12… Reg. St. A. 379.
De Windiduris usque ad Kingissete c12… Reg. St. A. 381.
Windes duris 1327–8 Reg. Dunferm. 254.
Wynderigz 1456 Exch. R. VI 225.
De j loco in Wyndiduris 1561 Reg. Dunferm. 439.
Teyndis aitis within Dunfermling parrochin … Wyndeedge j b. ij f. 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 149.
From thence we, passing by the windy gowle, Did make the hollow rocks with echoes yowle ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court 28.
Windy Walls compear, What are ye resting for the foresaid year?a. 1667–70 Lauder Jrnl. 194.
Stands most hy and windie in the edge of Drumshorling Moor … Its stronglie built as it had neid, being built in so windy a part(b) 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 350.
Then wes he worsland our ane wondie swyrefig. 1583 Sempill Warning 8.
Ȝe villbe vrakit on the vyndy schoir

b. specif. Referring to a hall in Dumbarton Castle. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 126.
We wan thair artailȝerie … and turned the samyn to thame self wha yet keapit Wallace toure, the Quhit towre, with the windiehall, the chalmer betuene the craigis and the neather bailie 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 320.
Item, in the windie hall … ane stand bed 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 302.
Ane tymber yet in Windiehall 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 355.
For dressing of ane lock and making of ane new key to the vundie hall viii s.

2. Applied to Eolus the god of the winds. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2148.
The wyndie Eolus

3. Of a period of time or the weather: Characterised by wind, consisting of wind, wild. 1596 Dalr. II 155/7.
The Erles of Lenox and Glenkarne cheiseng a conuenient nycht for thair purpose mirk, windie, and stormie, quhen men mycht nouther heir nor se 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 574.
We came at night to Uxeter in most tempestuous windie and rainie weather c1650 Spalding II 462.
Marche wes veray wyndie, heiche, and outragious 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 481.
The night being dark & windie, he & his brother Robert Grant escaped 1659-60 A. Hay Diary 100.
A very windie, goulin day

4. fig. Resembling the wind. a. Of a sigh. 1640 Lithgow Poet. Remains 242.
Pale eyne begin to weep: Such pearling drops, with windy sighs

b. Changeable, fickle; flighty. 1513 Doug. xi xiii 133.
Thar sall thou se … Quhamto this wyndy [L. ventosa] glor … the lovyng grantis 1570 Calderwood II 524.
Yee must putt them out of the way that may or hath desire to hinder you. … Remember yee what the old bishop of Dumblane said … 'Princes sould not be windie' a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1737.
Ye are windie ye are lyke the laird of Diserts meir

5. fig. Of a speaker or manner of speaking: Verbose. 1513 Doug. xi viii 33.
Quhidder gif thy marcial dedis, as thai war ay, Into thy wyndy clattrand tung salbe 1581 Hamilton Cath Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 85/28.
Ane clatterin carlin, ane folische auld cairl, ane vyndie sophist, ye all men presumes to haue the treu knaulage of theologie

6. a. Of food: Liable to cause flatulence. 1583 Sempill Warning xx.
Thair tender stomokis takis nocht with our fouid Our kaikis ar vyndy our aill is reid and ruid

b. Of a person or a state of health: Suffering from or characterised by flatulence. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 322 (T).
Wirriand on wind flaiffis, and windie wainis 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 440.
Hypochondriak Melancholly. A windie melancholly which is bred of ach and sorness about the short ribs