Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Stay, v.² P.t. staid. [e.m.E. stay(e (1526), stey (Tyndale), staie (1548), OF estayer (1213 in Larousse).] To support, sustain; to comfort (a person, oneself). b. To support financially, meet the expenses of. 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 515.
That thai being certifiit of the veritie may be resolvit of all doubt and … may stay thame selffis on the treuth 1568 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 1 Nov.
Ȝe desyre me to stay or scale my freindis … gif ȝe will assure me that my lord … will stand my gud freind … I will stay my freindis … in all tymes cumyng 1569 Ayr & W. Coll. III 188.
We staying ourselff alhaill and depending thereupoun 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 63.
Dois scho … comfort him in seiknes? Quhen scho cannot stay him in lyfe, cummis scho to ressaif his last braith? 1675 Sel. Biog. II 105.
This staid me something, and withal put me to multiply my prayersb. 1583–4 Ayr B. Acc. 149.
[Expenses] to stay our nychtbouris at hame summoneit be him befoir the counsale, [£15 6 s. 8 d.]