Ted Hastings wrote:
>
> I've done a bit more checking. The Online Scots Dictionary at
> http://www.scots-online.org/dictionary/search.asp
>
> gives the meaning as "an expression signifying haste".
And given by English and American dictionaries as an 'expression of
digust, dislike or... being shocked'.
In the case of 'fye gar rub her o'er' it could be either. In the case of
Killiecrankie it could be either. In several other cases it could not be
'hurry' - 'Fye on ye Peggy' clearly means the disgust exclamation (which
I think is similar to 'shame!') and 'Oh fye, Mackay, what gart ye lie'
sounds more like an admonishment after the event that an incitement to
hurry (although it could be, just be difficult).
I'd like to see an example of 'fy' used in a context where it could
only, definitely mean 'hurry'. I'm going to have a look in some of the
older 19th and 18th c dictionaries I've got.
David
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