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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Spy, v. Also: spye, spie, spay. [ME and e.m.E. spie(n (c1250), spi (Cursor M.), spye(n (c1325), spy (a1400), OF espier. Cf. Aspy(e v., Espy(e v.]

1. tr. To notice, discover, observe, catch sight of (a place, person, etc.).(a) 1375 Barb. x 559.
Our the wall I slaid; Ane strate rod that I spyit had [In-till] the crag syne doune I went 1460 Hay Alex. 3037.
Thair com ane voce … bad him spy ane vther strenthie place c1475 Wall. iv 292.
In to Straithern thai entrit … In couert past or Sothren suld thaim spy a1500 Sir Eger 2402 (L).
For he tells in his coming hame, That he hath spyed a lady gent 1513 Doug. i Prol. 499.
Beis not ourstudyus to spy a moyt in myne e c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1683.
Latt ws go spye sum plesand feilde 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9546.
On Gwydois nek ane nakit place he spyis, Quhair at gude speid he stryks c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 530.
The pure plewmen & laubouraris of ȝour landis Quhen tha haue nocht to fill ȝour gredie hands, Quhair ȝe can spye ane man to geue ȝow mair, Ȝe schute thame furth a1578 Pitsc. II 237/19.
The said serwand … was spyed and tane with the wreittingis 1591-2 Rob Stene 7.
Thinkis thow with judgling … Play fast and lows and not be spyit 1596 Dalr. II 30/1.
In persoune of a pure beger he cumis to Makdougal his hous … quhen be a certane sportour he was spyet quha in Ingland had seine and knew him 1634 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 1 May.
Tuentie merkis … for the spysiluer of ane vther kow stowne … fra James … spyit be the said Gillagreist(b) a1578 Pitsc. II 92/21.
And on the morrow quhene thay saw and spayit the Scotismen so greit ane airmie and so weill orderit, they war greatlie effeirit

2. To discover, become aware of, observe (something non-material). a1400 Leg. S. xxx 187.
Scho went on to pref hir arte, & spyit best tyme that scho Theodera mycht cume to c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 271 (Ch. & M.).
Twa husbandis haif I had thai held me baith deir, Thought I dispytit thaim agane thai spyt it na thing 1513 Doug. Exclam. 29.
Quha lyst syt doun to moyt Ane otheris sayaris faltis to spy and noyt 1567 G. Ball. 193.
I traist till God ȝe sall deir by it, Because thair falset is now spyit a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 23/53.
At the last thy doing will be spyit Thocht thow with slicht wald cover it 1570 Sat. P. xxii 25.
Ane luiring bait fond fischis to wirk tene, Not spying deith till thay on lyne be fixt a1578 Pitsc. I 17/7.
At the last spyand oportunitie … to fullfill hir purpois [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 100/21.
They send exploratouris to the toune of Edinburgh to spy the forme and fassoun of all thair proceidingis a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 67/92.
Sum ar dissemblit ȝit proud in thair consait Bot other spyis weill aneuche thair gait a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 496 (L).
Be nocht dreddand … The mater is of mycht Fyrst spy bayth and try bayth Aduysment dois no ill c1590 Fowler I 37/25.
Sen thow [so] well in me hed spyed … My double lowe

b. To observe, take into account, follow (something previously agreed to). a1651 Calderwood VII 31.
The … Assemblie at Linlithquo … had expresslie provided that the advice givin in the conference at Falkland sould be observed till the next Generall Assemblie. And true it is, that in that conference at Falkland, the meeting at Linlithquo, wherin the intended innovatioun of the moderator was begunne, was spyed, and that mater to be farther treatted in the insuing Assemblie

3. To discover, observe, find out; consider (how, gif, quhen, etc. something should be done, etc.). a1400 Leg. S. xiii 107.
How for to get hyme thai can spy 1513 Doug. i viii 40.
To spy thai baid Quhou it stude with thar ferys 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7403.
He socht the towre and spyit all round about, Gif he culd find the gait quhair scho gat out a1568 Bann. MS 265a/58.
Thus I ouirdraif fra day to day To spy quhen court sowld gone away 1570 Sat. P. xiii 35.
This mortall feid … Did first begin … As in the Genesis we may plainly spie, Betuix twa brether, Cain and Abell a1578 Pitsc. I 196/29.
Makgregour … happnit … to spye and perceave quhair ane Inglisman set the croun vp in keiping c1590 Fowler I 58/9
Than did I spye … be what art … they conducted thairto wer

4. To spy on, watch, observe (a person, place, etc.) secretly, for the purpose of gathering information and with hostile intent. b. With clause object. a1400 Leg. S. ii 22.
And in Jerusalem he [sc. Paul] was bofte, Spyit, waitit, and bundyn ofte c1400 Troy-bk. i 20.
That syk strangeres in hys cuntre War cummyn for to spye and see The pryvateis of hys kynryk c1420 Wynt. ii 1084.
He gert that woman sawffyt be That sauffyt hys spyis wysly Quhen thai come that towne to spy 1456 Hay I 164/29.
Men may … barate thair inymyes … or ȝit ger spy thame, and se quhen thay ar in disaray c1475 Wall. iv 523.
Off for tyme thar he spyit had the toune 1494 Loutfut MS 2a.
The counstable marschall … suld gar luge the fechtaris … quhar thai mycht nocht be sene nor spyit thair abilȝementis of armes c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 690 (see Spy n. 1 (1)). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3294.
Tauld I ȝow not That we wald baith be spyit be the pyotb. 1375 Barb. ix 353 (E).
And in all tyme that he thar lay He spyit and slely gert assay Quhar at the dyk schaldest was 1375 Barb. xv 114.
In-till the castell priuely Thai entryt for thai had gert spy That mony of schyr Eduuardis men War scalyt in the contre then c1475 Wall. vi 467.
Amang Sotheroun … he past On athir side his eyne he gan to cast Quhar lordis lay [etc.] … Spyand full fast quhar his awaill suld be And couth weyll luk [etc.] 1535 Stewart 3944.
Exploratouris … tha send till spy Gif ony baid in buschment neir hand by 1562 Digest Justiciary Proc. D 52.
[They] sendand sindrie espyes to the said toune to spy quhat the quenis grace and the lordis wer doand

5. To look at, examine, behold (a person, place, etc.). 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 79.
Me thocht I lurkit vp vnder my hude To spy this ald 1535 Stewart 631.
Furth with thame he passit … On till ane hicht the land quhair he mycht spy 1535 Stewart 4165.
The pepill all, that duelland wer neirby, Come to the cost thair hame-cuming to spy 1549 Compl. 11/25.
Quhen he hed contemplit & spyit the proportions & propreteis of nature of thir fife ladeis he chesit the face of ane, the een of ane vthir [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 825.
We all seuin hes spyit the firmament 1560 Rolland Seven S. 836.
Ȝit I mon pas and all the sternes spy Gif I can find ony remeid thairby

6. intr. To make observations, to look on, behold; to seek information in this manner; to watch out for; also sometimes with implications of espionage. Passing into b. To act as a spy, to spy.Hamilton quot. may belong in 4 above. a1400 Leg. S. xiii 137.
& sa eftyre spyit thai That thai fand hyme one Pasck-day & … til erd cane hyme caste a1500 Henr. Fab. 695 (Bann.).
Quhen I thus saw, I drew a littill by, For it effeiris nowdir to heir nor spy, Nor to reweill thing said vndir that sele c1475 Wall. iv 224.
Thir men went furth as it was large mydnycht About that hous thai spyit … The wachman was hewy fallen on sleipe [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 427.
I … drawis my clok forthwart our my face quhit That I may spy unaspyit 1513 Doug. vii v 11.
As scho fur Down from the skyis on far can do spy Of the heland Pachynnus in Scycilly; Beheld the Troiane navy 1535 Stewart 11674.
Agricola … he hes gart spy and speir Ouir all the cost [etc.] … For to noit all farleis that thai fand 1551 Hamilton Cat. 88.
Quhasaever spyis or lukis apon ony woman haiffand ony lust [etc.] 1609 Garden Garden 25.
Stay, stranger, thou that so preceislie spyes With earnest eies and on those graues does gaze, Look here below [etc.]b. 1456 Hay I 238/21.
All pilgrymes … may bathe travaill in were and pes amang frendis and fais but impedyment … sa that thare be na coverit malice under, as to spy

7. Const. out: To discover by careful observation, to detect, reveal, also for the purpose of espionage. 15.. Wyf Awcht. 28 (K).
Some spottis in the house ye man out spy 1584 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI 119.
To watche ower the maners of tham selves and the rest, and spy out the fructes of the Word in all behaviour 1596 Dalr. I 75/12.
Quhen thay [sc. the Scots] cam [to Ireland] and a litle had spyed out, thay fand it mekle bettir than the rumour was 1596 Dalr. II 308/22.
The Scotis and Frenchemen spyet out al the munitione about the toune 1596 Dalr. II 312/28.
Sa was done throuch the diligence of Hume, quha spyet out the Inglis counsell, that quhat thay preparet for ws 1596 Dalr. II 321/21.
He was seine be the watchemen, and al his fraud spyet out, and shawen 1628 Cramond Ch. Ordiquhill 5.
Patrick Darg … is content to resign … vpon this condition that they spy out some man qualifyed