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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HEY, int., v., n. [həi]

I. int. Used as in Eng. as a cry to attract attention or of exultation, surprise or interrogation and compounded with other words in Sc. in the following phrases: 1. hech-hey, see Hech, 4. (2); 2. hey-jing-go-ring, a girl's game. See Jingo-ring; 3. heykokutty, “a ludicrous dance performed by persons squatting on their hookers, to the tune of ‘Hey-quo-cutty'” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., Sh. 1957). Cf. cutty hunker dance, id., s.v. Cutty, n. and 1908 quot s.v. Henk, v., 1.; 4. hey-ma-nanny, hi(e)-, haymynannie (Lnk. 1902 A. Wardrop Hamely Sk. 52) in phrs.: (1) like hey-ma-nanny, vigorously, quickly (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Gen.(exc. I.)Sc.; (2) to get (gie) (one's) hey-ma-nanny, to get (give) a drubbing, to (be) scold(ed) or punish(ed) vigorously (ne.Sc., Per., Rxb. 1957); 5. hey Wullie Wine, see quot.4. (1) Lnk. 1881 A. Wardrop J. Mathison's Courtship 12:
Here he sprang frae Kirsty's side and danced like hey-my-nannie.wm.Sc. 1923 H. Foulis Hurricane Jack 18:
They were singin' like hey-my-nanny when Jeck and Jenkins came in the midst o' them.Lnk. 1948 J. G. Johnston Fish with me 31:
Ye cam' up like hie ma nanny — jist nae bother ava.(2) Abd. 1928 N. Shepherd Quarry Wood iii.:
You'll get yer hi-ma-nanny when ye win hame.Bch. 1941 C. Gavin Black Milestone vi.:
I'll gie him hey-ma-nanny . . . for lettin' sae lang gae by ohn sendin' a letter.5. Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 261–2:
An old fire-side play of the peasantry, . . . One of the lasses . . . addresses one of the lads so — “Hey, Wullie Wine, and How, Wullie Wine, I hope for hame ye'll no incline, Ye'll better light, and stay a' night, And I'll gie thee a lady fine . . .” [A dialogue between them follows of question and answer till a girl's name is mentioned who meets with the lad's approval.] The chief drift of this singular amusement seems to be, to discover the sweethearts of one another.

II. v. To exclaim hey! in order to announce one's presence, or as an expression of high spirits, e.g. in dancing; to summon with a shout of hey! Gen.Sc.Edb. 1792 “Juvenis Scoticus” Melpomene 46:
Our Jack wad hey whare ane mith hear Three mile awa The milk-maid forth wi' whay or beer.Ayr. 1882 A. L. Orr Laigh Flights 48:
They hooched, an' heyed, an' loupt an flang.Ags. 1890 A. Lowson J. Guidfollow 227:
He . . . played on his flute to the dancers while they “hooch'd” and “hey'd” till the rafters of the old Castle Keep rang again.

III. n. The exclamation hey. See Hech, n. Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems (1876) II. 100:
An' soon's our hechs an heys are by, An' baith our rungs laid down.