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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Wynd, Wind, n.¹ Also: wynde, winde, vynd(e, uynde, vind, wend, vend, wond, vond, woynd, wund, vunde, wound, uounde, uownd, weind, weynd, wyne, win, wen. [ME and e.m.E. winde (c1200), wind (c1250), wynd(e (both Chaucer), wend (Cursor M.), MLG, MDu. wind, ON vindr.]

1. (The, a) wind, especially with reference to its force and power. Also proverb. and in comparative or allusive use. Also pl.b. specif.As a means of power used to drive a sailing ship. Also, wind servand, with a favourable wind, wind permitting. Cf. e below. c. In particularised use, esp. with reference to the direction of the wind. Also, a gret wind, a strong wind, a gale. In fig.use, also ill (euill) wind, illness caused by witchcraft.sing.(1) c1420 Wynt. i 1020.
Wytht out stalown the merys thar Off the wynde [W. bot of wynd] consayvand are(b) c1400 Troy-bk. i 581.
Als wele baith erd, ayer, & wynd; And all the planettes, as we fynd c1420 Wynt. v 4870.
Off wynd thai callyd god Eolus 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 253/2.
With battelling … and all uther maner of defens … necessar for savite … of his said hous and thak thairof fra invasioun of fyre, wynd and uther ways 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 59.
The wynd maid waif the red wed on the dyke 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 148.
For … clay to stoip the ryiftis & hoillis about the orlaige for halding the vynd fra the knok(c) 15.. Dunb. App. vi 67.
In Yrland quhen scho blew behind, At Norway coist scho raisit the wynd a1570-86 Maitl. F. 440/126.
A fartigall to gathair wind 1599 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 318.
For mending of the greit roundis and the foir rowndis tirrit with the wind vii lib. i s. iii d. a1601 Boyd Sonet.
Lyc til … a reid owrblawin with the wind 1635 Dickson Wr. 134.
A sheaf of corn … when it is thrashen, is letten through the wind; and thy enemies shall be carried away, as chaff, that is carried out of the gate with the wind 1662 Crim. Trials III 606.
Margret Wilson hes an niknam called, ‘Pikle neirest the wind’(d) 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics iii 109.
Auras, the winde(e) 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I 24.
Ane bairne that wes tane away with ane blast of wound 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 131/15.
Uounde … uitt & raine(f) a1605 Birrel Diary
Ane vehement tempest of vundeproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 108.
After a wind there commes a weit a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 650.
He hes the wind in his face(2) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 770.
Golograse … Wod wraith as the wynd, his handis can wryng c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 183/59.
Fortoun … Quhais fals behechtis as wind hyne was 1513 Doug. xi xii 54.
The Latynys … to the tovn spurris als fers as wynd a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvi 4.
O vhat a martyrd man am I … I freat, I fry, I wreist, I wry, I wrassill with the wind 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 21/19.
The uynde that He uith flammis doth ioyne & mell Shall be the portion of the cupp for thamepl. 1456 Hay II 128/7.
The wyndis ar mare lowin and mare dryand na in winter a1500 K. Hart 56.
Fyve seruituris … Ane for the nicht, that harknit bissely Out of quhat airt that ever the wyndis blew 1513 Doug. iii iii 90.
The wyndis weltris the sey continualy 1533 Bell. Livy II 224/6.
Thare tentis stude in ane law place … sa brynt be hetis of [the] son … that als sone as the wyndis blew, na powder rais bot brynt as in thare ene 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II 309.
Lyme, sand, and sklatts to poynt and mend all the fyve mylnis, quhilk wes evin revin with the wynds 1600-1610 Melvill 261.
The Lord of Armies, wha ryddes upon the winges of the wounds … was in the mean tyme convoying that monstruus navie about our costes(b) a1605 Montg. Flyt. 418 (H).
Be the heiht of the hevins, & be the hownes of hell, Be the weindes, and the weirdes, & the charlewaineb. (1) 1375 Barb. iv 443.
The wynd [C. vynde] wes thaim agayne That swa hey gert the land-bryst rys That thai moucht weld the se na wis c1420 Wynt. vi 2494.
As thai ware on se sayland The wynd swa skant wes than blawand, And all the weddrys … Wes to thare purpos all contrayre ?a1450 Florimond 288.
Thay hade gude wind to thair intent 1513 Doug. v i 34.
The wynd is contrar, brayand in our bak saill 1513 Doug. viii xii 81.
Wynd sayll about, and gang befor the wynd 1540 Lynd. Sat. 623 (B).
To se the wawis it was a woundir, And wound that raif the sailis in schunder 1549 Compl. 40/36.
Than ane of the marynalis began to hail and to cry … hard out steif … afoir the vynd afoir the vynd a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvi 10.
I haif a littill Fleming berge … With evin keill befoir the wind Scho is richt fairdy with a saill 1600-1610 Melvill 253.
Nather was ther handes to takle the sealles, nor was the grathe haill and freshe to byd the wound 1608 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I 83 (see Upo(u)n(e prep. 23). 1685 Lauder Observes 189.
The wind Argile got from Holland … was so favorable that it brought him in a very few dayes to Orknay … which made some think his witches had sold him a wind but he hes got no good wind to carry him away(b) a1400 Leg. S. vi 44.
Than vent thai to the se … & that thare vil gud vend thai had 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 60b.
Our compeneye ther es watene wpone the wend 2 dayes(c) a1578 Pitsc. I 230/6.
Findand that the wond … bure thame to Inchchap(2) 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 136.
The schippis … the quhilkis in half a day vynd servand wilbe heirc. (1) a1500 Rauf C. 16.
The wind blew out of the eist stiflie and sture c1500 Crying of Play 127.
With this last eistin wynd, I am cum heir perdie 1533 Boece 443a.
The eistyn wynd … blewe the sand … in the face of Constantinis armye 1549 Compl. 61/6.
The marynalis … hes … discriuit thretty tua sortis of vyndis 1578 Conv. Burghs I 64.
Thair is bot ane wynde from the north that makis ony reik a1605 Montg. Flyt. 397 (H).
Some [sc. witches], be force, in effect, the four wendes fitches 1600-1610 Melvill 282.
When the south wound haid dryed upe all thair conservars and cisterns of water(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 141/1.
Quhen Merche wes with variand windis past 1513 Doug. x vi 154.
The contrar wyndys stryvys … in thar equale mychtis [pr. nychtis] 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 8.
For mending of the cart hors stables … efter the greit wynd … iiii s. 1543–4 Treas. Acc. VIII 249.
The saidis boittis witht artalȝe, quhilkis war seperat be ane gret wound 1562-3 Winȝet I 3/7.
Ane schip in ane dedely storme, enforsed by contrarius wyndis betuix maist daingerus sanddy beddis … and terrible rolkis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 326.
The suddartis … set in fyre sum houssis … quhilk [fire] happit fra hous to hous throw the maisterie of ane grit wynd 1583 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 180a.
To lawin and drawin of the crukkis be the greit wynd that it wald nocht steik 15… Anal. Scot. ii 7.
He biggit of the wast part of the Abbay Kirk, quhilk was blawin doun be ane gryt wond 1608 Chron. Perth 12.
The great wind blew down the stanes of the mantil wall of the kirk(b) a1605 Montg. Sonn. lxvi 5.
This winter win(3) fig. a1500 Henr. Fab. 607 (Bann.).
This wikkit wind of adulatioun 1557 Knox IV 274.
Evin to the end ye sall continew in that doctrine … notwithstanding that the windis of unstabill and disavibill opinions be blowin in your earis 1562-3 Winȝet I 65/10.
Considering … quhat perrel it is to be cariit about with euery wind [MS wond] of doctrine a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 22/27.
Be nocht blawine with windis of all airtis Constante in gude of wisdome is ane sing c1590 J. Stewart 92/459.
The lord of luife … Maks vith his vings this vind … To cause my kendlit flammes euir flow c1615 Chron. Kings 41.
We have defenditt our realme in despytt of the Brittanse … quhy will not the Frenchemen respeck thair awin particular, and serue thame with the lyk wind 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 192.
The Earle of Huntley hearkened to this motion … and, with some wund of hope, satisfeid the desire of his conceit 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 49.
I need no' speer, What wind it was that blew you here — 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 49.
Ane bairn of his than lying seik and haid gottin, as he vnderstud, ane blast of ill wind 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
Hir sister wes seik by the dint of ane ill wynd, quhilk wes prepairit nocht for hir bot for hir maister 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 11 Aug.
They knew nocht tha[t] scho wes ane wousch, bot that the brute ȝeid that scho culd help bairnes that hed gottin ane dint of euill wynd 1650 Brechin Presb. 40.
Presumptiones of witchcraft against Catharin Lyall … [she] straik the horse on the hinder fillets with a weight … ther cam by a stranger woman and said the horse has gotten a blast of ill wind, and when his skin shall be taken off it would have a black spott quher he had gotten the stroke

d. In collocation with water, rane, tyd, etc. Also, wind(ticht) and waterticht, see 5 c below. a1400 Leg. S. v 536.
That he sud thole ther-in na pane Of noyus vyndis, na of rane ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 35.
Baith rane, snaw, wind, and hailstanis fell apoun Ȝour bair tender heid c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 92.
Eolus … and Neptunus … us met with wind and waw [B. woundis waw] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 119/27.
Purpos dois change as wynd or rane 1513 Doug. iii viii 60.
Within the hawyn goith lown but wynd or wall 1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 98.
James Vilkesone to swer that he suld nocht haf haldin his hous vatertycht and fra vond and water as us is c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1464.
Noye … Remanit ane hundreth and fyfty dayis, In gret langour and heuynes, Or wynd or rane began to ceis 1574 Inverness Rec. I 239.
The Wattir of Nes be the occasioun of fluidis and uownds [pr. nowuds] is able for to … tak away the croft 1591-2 Rob Stene 22.
We mon byd Thair frevoll freickis of wind and tyd, And calculd weill the cours of mone a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 43 (see West northwest n.).
Woynd 1629 Justiciary Cases I 97.
Ane foule and tempestuous nycht of wynd and weit

e. In collocation with weddir, esp. as wynd and weddir servand, wind and weather permitting. See Serv(e v.¹ 21 a and Weddir n.¹ 3 for further examples.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 220.
Bo[t] tholyt al that haly rowte In wynd & wedyre ly thare-owt Of thare tempil a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 150.
The seuin planetis, discending fra thair spheiris Quhilk hes power … To reull and steir … Wedder and wind, and coursis variabill 1533 Boece 155b.
The schippis finding fare wynd and weddir, saling about Albioun in the Firth of Tay arrivit 1596 Dalr. II 200/22.
In Edinburgh vpon a Halow day, rais sik a wind and wethir that in the toun fell mony houses(b) a1568 Bann. MS 225a/6.
The flour … That fadis nocht for weddir wen nor weit(2) 1557 Inverness Rec. I 10.
Certain victuall promest to hyme … at ane certan day wynd and wedder seruand 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 509.
His departing … to be befoir the xx day of September … (weind and woddir serving) 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 511.
Weynd and woddir servand 1587 Misc. Maitl. C. II 356.
Johnne Thomsoune … to serve and pas throw this burch with his drum at ffour houres in the morning and aucht at evin … and fand James Eistoune cautioune that he sould keip his hour wind and weddar servand 1589 Bk. Carlaverock I 283.
Norroway … where, God willinge, our tarrye shall be very short, winde and weather servinge

f. To, with the wynd, in the direction in which the wind is blowing, with the wind. Also before (afoir) the wynd, see b above. On (to) the wynd, towards the direction in which the wind is blowing, windward. Also fig.(1) 1375 Barb. xi 200.
Baneris rycht fayrly flawmand And penselys to the wynd [C. vynd] wawand a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 290.
Licht as leif of the lynd lest, That welteris doun with the wynd, sa wauerand it is 1513 Doug. iii vi 184.
To gaddir togiddir thame [sc. leaves] with the wynd bewave 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 281.
That … the lynt … be … cassin furth to the wynd 1581 Burne Disput. 141.
Als licht as the leuis of the treis … blauin auay vith the vind 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 159.
[He] threw the ashes of that holy man with the wund(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1986.
‘Na,’ quod the volff, ‘thow can cum on the wind’ c1475 Wall. vii 469.
The stynk scalyt off ded bodyis … The Scottis abhord ner hand for to byd; Ȝeid to the wynd, and leit thaim ewyn allayne(3) fig. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 182/12 (A).
It cummis ofttymis to the auaricius that ane nother spendis & puttis to the wynd the gudis that he gadderit with gret truble & pane 1562-3 Winȝet II 27/21.
Thai schaik vp in the wound with thare cursit handis the memory of euery haly man

2. Breath, esp. as used in the articulation of speech, hence, worthless talk, (a waste of) breath. Also, to gif (a person) the wind, to talk, chatter to (a person).(1) a1400 Leg. S. viii 22, 23.
A fel dragone, lyk to be wod … twa tribunes … Slew of his mouth with the fel wynde & al the lafe that the wyne had Twechit, richt seke ware mad a1400 Leg. S. xlii 77.
Ȝoure wordis ar bot wynd, & I ȝoure hichtis bot hething find 1456 Hay I 271/22.
Men sais commonly that word is as wynd, bot dynt is as devill a1500 Henr. Fab. 159.
Of this mater to speik, I wair bot wind [Bann. I do bot waistis wind, Ch. it wer bot wind] Thairfore I ceis and will na forther say 15.. Sym & Bruder 128.
His mowth wes schent and sa forschorne Held nowdir wind nor watter; Fair weill all blast of blawing horne He mycht nocht do bot blatter 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 395.
Wourdis ar bot wynd, I say in-deid, Withoute gude werks of thame proceid 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5456.
For strangeris come with thair vaine wind, And fals flatterie maid him sa blind 1558-66 Knox II 392.
The Quene regarded his wordis as wynd, or ellis thocht thame to have been forged be otheris a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1660.
Word ar bot wind, but dunts are the devill 1658 R. Moray Lett. 296.
Talk to Will all the way nothing but of refined virtue, that you may be the better in wind when we meet, else you may expect a good bouncing mell(2) 1562 Prot. Bk. Gilbert Grote 48.
Johnne Coutis … met thame and causit thame cum witht him to his hous, quhair he gaif thame the wynd be the space of half ane hour or thairby

3. Gases generated in the stomach or intestines. c1420 Wynt. v 523.
He thoucht till ordane … Be statute quhen men suld lat ga Owte off thare bodyis ryfftys off wynd c1420 Wynt. v 527.
A man … Forbare for tyll [lat] owt the wynd Wyth ryfft before, or blyst behynd, Swa that he peryst in that thrawe

4. Air produced using some sort of mechanical contrivance such as a bellows. 1513 Doug. viii vii 175.
Sum can ressaue the glowand heyt, sum wynd With blawand bellys bet the fyre behynd 1630 Dumbarton B. Rec. 34.
Na beiff nor muttoun be blawn or ony kind of wind wrocht therein be ony kind of ingyne

5. comb. a. With nouns. Wind ball, an inflated ball for playing with. Windboard, the windward side of a ship. Wind fan, a blast of wind, a breeze. Wind flaiffis, ? belches of wind. Windhew, ? something to keep the wind out; cf. Wyndskew n. Wind measure, an instrument for measuring the force of the wind. Wind-pipe, the wind-pipe or trachea; only fig. Wind staff, a pole for supporting a rope, etc. on which clothes are being dried. Windstray, = Wyndil(l) stray n.; only fig.(1) 1587 Carmichael Etym. 8.
Follis, a bellows or wind ball(2) a1603 Tract. Leg. Naval. 65.
Stireboard is the right hand looking to the heid of the ship And not to the sterne … windboard and leiboard are contrair(3) 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Flabra, ane wind fan(4) a1605 Montg. Flyt. 322 (T).
Wirriand on wind flaiffis, and windie wainis(5) 1612–13 Misc. Spald. C. V 90.
For reparing the grammer schole, the thak thairof being blauin aff. … For ane tree to be lathe, and ane deale to be ane vindhew, 1 lib. 3 s. 4 d.(6) 1626 Reg. Great S. 355/2.
Instrumentum ad ventorum intensionem observandam inserviens, quod … lie wind-measoure nominatum est(7) 1699 Forrester Bishops Claim i 74.
In thus including Ministers, … he cuts the wind-pipe of his grand topick and notion here(8) 1666 Edinb. Test. LXXII 194b.
Ane streyng with clevin wind staffes for drying of cloathes(9) 1618 Calderwood VII 293.
It is not for me in this age, … as I stand a gazing stocke to the world, and windshaken reid and weatherbeatten windstray, to mynd earthlie things now

b. Where the wind is an agent. Wyndfallin, only fig., cast down and carried along by opinion. Wyndflaucht, felled as though by a gust of wind, hence, sprawling, flat out. Windshaken, shaken by the wind.(1) 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 124.
Is it not ane gretar secreit to ony wynde fallin prechear … to decerne on the ineffable misterie of the blyssit sacrament of the altare, nor it wes to Peter to decerne upon meatis forbiddin be the law 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 161.
Ony vaine man … quhilk … is led with everye wynd-fallin precheair, and doctryne 1561 Q. Kennedy Oratioune 10.
Be nocht abusit onne this maner with your dissaitfull windfallin prechoure, nocht knowand quharfra he come nor be quhat ordour 1562-3 Winȝet II 10/4.
Ane of our windfallin brethir, laitlie snapperit in the cummerance of Caluin(2) 1513 Doug. v vi 86.
He … Maid hym lycht wyndflaucht [L. revolutus] on the grond onclene 1513 Doug. xii ix 76.
Enee, … Furth of hys cart … bet hym doun onto the erd wyndflaucht, With a gret roik or quhirrand stane ourraucht(3) 1618 Calderwood VII 292 (see 5 a (9) above).

c. With adjectives: Wind fast, windticht in collocation with Wattirticht adj., q.v. for further examples, impervious to wind. Wynd swift, as swift as the wind. Only in fig. context.(1) 1648 Inverurie 302.
The heritors in all parishes are ordained to keep the kirk wind-fast and water-tight — 1577 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 59.
Thair hie scole, quhilk was nocht wattertycht, wynd tycht, or lokfast 1607 Orkney Rentals App. 89.
To make the said house water thight and wind thight 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 59.
The said Gilbert promeisit … to uphald, beit and repair the saidis haill houssis … barnes and byris windticht and watterticht induring his occupatioun of the saidis landis 1635 Thanes of Cawdor 278.
The said tour fortalice was than windticht and waterticht sufficiently sklaittit and ruiffit with timber and sklait 1648 S. Leith Rec. 81/1.
William Tocke … to … repair all the glasine windows in or church … and sall uphold the same … wind tight and water tight 1696 Dunkeld Presb. II 471.
To keep the samen [sc. the church] water and wind tightellipt. 1641 Elgin Rec. II 239.
For upholding the glas windowes of the kirk and the queir and the south ile wind and water ticht(2) 1513 Doug. vi xiii 100.
The wynd swift hart he schot to ded