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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ferry, Ferrie, n. Also: ferrye, -ey, -ay, ferré; fery, ferie. [ME. ferry (c 1489), fery (c 1440), either from Ferry,v.¹ or ON. ferja.] A ferry.Queneferie occurs c 1295, and the place-name Ferycars in 1359. 1327 Exch. R. I. 65.
In capella del Fery c1420 Wynt. vi. 2055.
That passage syne was comownly In Scotland called the Erlys Ferry Ib. viii. 6205.
At the Ferry off the Hill thai mete c1475 Wall. i. 285.
Besyd Landoris the ferrye ourthai past c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxx. 39.
In freiris weid … I past at Dover our the ferrye 1533 Boece xii. xvi. 484 b.
The king passing the ferre of Forth be tempest was drevin apoun the Insch namyt Emonia 1547 Treas. Acc. IX. 120.
Letterres to all this side of the ferreis, dischargeing all boittis to pas upoun the se 1575 Wemyss Corr. 95.
He menis … to ryid furtht his hee way to the ferrey a1578 Pitsc. II. 106/6.
The ferryis was so oppressit be the Inglischmen that was in Inschekeytht 1596 Dalr. I. 61/24.
Another thing nocht vnlyke … was seine … in a ferray vpon Tai 1600 Conv. Burghs II. 81.
The brugh of Kinghorne and ferre thairof, being of grit antequite 1641 Acts V. 607/2.
To haue ane ferrie vpone the water of Done

b. Attrib. with craft, gate, side. Also ferry-stayed. c1475 Wall. ix. 1306.
For fery craft na fraucht he thocht to crave 1547 (1585) Reg. Great S. 268/2.
Lie lone dik seu ferriegait [at Balmerino] 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 201.
To … [the] boy that came with the hors to the ferrie syd 1620 Grant Chart. 323.
For drink and sum meit eftirnoone, we being ferrie stayed