An etymological dictionary of the Scottish language - Electric Scotland

CON [490] COO
when it was extended to live stock, to have been particularly
limited, as referring to those which were
brought to the altar. V. Du Cange.
The learned Spottiswoode, who introduces this term
in his MS. Diet., observing that "it is supposed Gaelic,"
gives a far more plausible etymon. This is can, cain,
or cum, a tribute, and bheatha, life, aliment.
I find no proof, however, that cun is used as de-
noting tribute. Although Cana is of Gaelic origin,
yet there is not the same reason for ascribing a similar
origin to Cunevethe. For Cain had been long an established
word of
general
use ; but as Cunevethe seems
confined to ecclesiastical matters, and appears only in
a charter granted by an English bishop to monks living
on the Border, it is by no means probable that a Gael,
term would be used.
The only conjecture I can form as to its origin is,
that it had been primarily used by the monks, in the
charters granted uy them to those to whom they let
their lands ; and that, writing in Latin, they had em-
ployed a Latin word, convict-us, signifying ordinary
food, meat and drink, &c., especially as intended for
those who live in society, from con and vivo, which, by
the unlearned, had been corr. into conveth ; a slighter
transition than that of many other terms when adopted
by the vulgar.
It might seem more nearly allied to conyecl-itm. But
the sense of this is more limited ; as denoting provision,
or ammunition, laid up in a town or magazine.
The very language, which occurs in a charter quoted
by Mr. Chalmers, corresponds to this derivation.
"The monks of Scone received yearly, from each
plough of land belonging to the monastery, pro suo
Conveth, [as if it had been originally, pro suo convictu,
for their sustenance in their conventual state] ad festum
omnium sanctorum, unam vaccam, duos porcos, quatuor
Clanmerioa farinae, decem thravas avenae, dccem gallinas,
duceuta ova, decem manipulos candelarum," &c.
Ibid.
CONVICT, s. A verdict or judgment finding
a person guilty ; an old forensic term.
"Tuecheing the productioun be thame off the
pretendit convict, decreit & dome gevin in the Justice
court haldin be the said Justice generall, &c. And
into diuerss poinctis & articles contenit in the convict
foirsaid," &c. Acts Mary, 1567, Ed. 1814, p. 566. 577.
Lat. convict-io.
To CONVOY, v. a. To accomplish,
to man-
age, to give effect to any purpose, especially
by artful means.
Amyd the oistis this wyse did scho thryng,
Not vuexpert to convoy sic ane tliyng.
Doug. Virgil, 416. 2.
"A thorny business came in, which the moderator,
by great wisdom, got cannily convoyed." Baillie's
Lett., i. 382.
This may
be from Fr. convi-er, tenter, exciter,
exhorter, porter a faire quelque chose ; Diet. Trev.
The phrase, "conuoyare of mariage," Doug. Virg.
217. 20. is not from this v., but from conmy-er, to
accompany. Our v., however, may have been formed
from tne latter, used obliquely ; as designing persons,
by accompanying those whom they mean to dupe,
watch for proper opportunities of accomplishing their
purposes.
CONVOY, s. 1. Channel, mode of conveyance.
"The General, and his party, finding some footsteps
of this intelligence, but not knowing the convoy of it,
thought they had circumscribed the men who stood
most in their ways for a year ago." Baillie's Lett., i.
427.
2. A trick.
But how, alace, as ye shall heir,
Betrayed thame bayth with a tryme convoy.
Makaud his bargain! with a boy.
Was ower to Flanders fled and ferreit.
Bp. St. Androis, Poems, Sixteenth Cent., p. 311.
3. Prudent or artful management.
"Then the earle Douglas, be whois moyane and convoy
all the court was guydit, thought he had sufficient
tyme and opportunitie to revenge all injuries done to
his freiudis a befoir," &c. Pitscottie's Crou., p. 49.
CONVOYANCE, s. Art, finesse.
"It is strange to see the conveyance of this odd
piece, hatched and made-up narrative, in the King's
name." Spaldiug, ii. 102.
CONVOY, *. 1. The act of accompanying
a person part of his way homeward, or on a
journey, S.
In modern E. the term is restricted to accompaniment
for the purpose of defence. In S. the more
general sense of the Fr. term is retained, as simply
denoting "an accompanying," Cotgr.
2. The company at a marriage that goes to
meet the bride, S. B.
Fr. convoy, "a following, waiting, or attending on,
especially at marriage, and buriall matters ;" Cotgr.
3. A Scots convoy, accompanying one to the
door, or " o'er the dorestane," S. In Aberd.
it is understood as signifying more than half
way home.
4. A Kelso convoy. V. KELSO.
[Convoy, as a v. occurs in various forma in Barbour.
V. Gl. to Skeat's edit.]
CONWOY, s. Mein, carriage.
Quhen I saw hir sa trimlye dance ;
Hir good conwoy and coutenance :
Than for hir sake I wissit to be
The grytast erle, or duke, in France.
Dunbar, Mainland Poems, p. 95.
CONWYN, s. Agreement. V. CONUENE.
COO'D, adj.
V. CUDE, CUID.
GOODIE, CUDIE, a. 1. A small tub, also,
cude : "a small wooden vessel used by some
for a chamberpot," Gl. Rams, quiddie, Aberd.
Nor kept I servants, tales to tell,
But toom'd my coodies a" mysell.
Ramsay's Poems, i. 306.
2. A wooden chamberpot, Aberd., Gl. Shirrefs ;
pron. Quiddie.
It has been supposed that this word may be allied to
Fr. go