▪ I. † ˈwaygate1 Obs.
Also 6 -gait.
[f. way adv. + gate n.2]
The act of going away, departure.
| 1575–6 Durham Depos. (Surtees) 269 This examinate at his waygait bad the said Thomas fairwell. 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence, Heautontim. iii. i. (1607) 221 Least that old wonted austeritie of yours bee worse then it was at his way⁓gate. 1600 Heywood 2nd Pt. Edw. IV (1613) Q 4 b, So God respect the waygate of my soule, as I know nothing. 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 77 It is an usuall course (amongst shepheards) att the way-gate of a snowe..to keepe theire sheepe..on some swarth-grownd. |
▪ II. waygate2 Sc. and north.
[f. way n.1 + gate n.2 Cf. way-gang, -go s.v. way n.1 40.]
1. A passage-way.
For various special uses see Eng. Dial. Dict.
| a 1800 in Hogg Jacobite Relics (1819) I. 24 He's awa to sail, Wi' water in his waygate, An' wind in his tail. 1866 Carlyle E. Irving in Froude Remin. (1881) I. 101 ‘Upon all these [books] you have will and waygate’, an expressive Annandale phrase of the completest welcome. |
2. Speed, progress, headway. Sc. and north.
| 1825–82 Jamieson. 1894 Northumbld. Gloss. |