1590. Marlowe, Tamburlaine, i. 2. 'Tis a pretty toy to be a poet.
1592. Shakspeare, Midsummer Night's Dream, v. 1. 3. I never may believe these antique fables, nor these fairy toys. Ibid. (1592), I Henry VI., iv. 1. 145. A toy, a thing of no regard. Ibid. (1604), Winters Tale, iv. 4. 326. Any silk, any thread, Any toys for your head?
1594. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, i. 15. A man whose wisdom is in weighty affairs admired would take it in some disdain to have his counsel solemnly asked about a TOY.
c. 1600. Merry Devil of Edmonton, iii. 1. 32. For your busk, attires and toys, Have your thoughts on heavenly joys.
d. 1719. Addison, Italy [Works (Bohn), 1. 504]. One cannot but be amazed to see such a profusion of wealth laid out in coaches, trappings, tables, cabinets, and the like precious toys.
1888. Black, Houseboat, ii. Perched on the top of a hill was a conspicuous toy of a church.
5. (old).—A whim, fancy, huff, offence, or caprice. Hence to take toy = (1) to be huffish, whimsical, restless; and (2) to go at random, play tricks, act the fool: whence toysome, etc: cf. hoity-toity = thoughtless, giddy. Toyt-headed = feather-brained.
14[?]. Babees Book [E.E.T.S.], 332. Cast not thyne eyes to ne yet fro, As thou werte full of toyes.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, i. 4. 77. The very place puts toys of desperation, Without more notice, into every brain.
1598. Marlowe, Hero and Leander, v. To hear her dear tongue robb'd of such a joy, Made the well-spoken nymph take such a toy. That down she sunk.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Capricciare, to growe or be humourous, toish, or fantastical.
1605. Jonson, Chapman, etc., Eastward Ho! iii. 2. A toy, a toy, runs in my head, i' faith.
1607. Chapman, Bussy D'Ambois, i. 1. Ta. Why did the toy take him in th' head now? Bu. 'Tis leap-year, lady.
c. 1611. Beaumont and Fletcher, Two Noble Kinsmen, v. 4. 65. The hot horse, hot as fire, Tooke toy at this.
1613. Marston, Insatiate Countess, i. Men. How now, my lady? does the toy take you, as they say? Abi. No, my lord; nor doe we take your toy, as they say.
1625. Jonson, Staple of News, i. 2. The fool . . . can commit whom he will, and what he will, error, absurdity, as the toy takes him.
1628. Earle, Microcos. [Arber], 63. She is indeed one that has taken a toy at the fashion of Religion, and is enamour'd of the New-fangle.
d. 1631. Donne, Prog. of Soul, 46. It quickened next a toyful ape.
d. 1663. Sanderson, Works, i. 358. As they sometimes withdraw their love from their children upon slender dislikes, so these many times take toy at a trifle.
1665. Glanville, Scep. Sci. Your society will discredit that toyishness of wanton fancy that plays tricks with words, and frolicks with the caprices of frothy imagination.
d. 1665. Adams, Sermons, 'The Fatal Banquet,' i. 221. These toytheaded times.
d. 1667. Jer. Taylor, Works (1835), 11. 320. The contention is trifling and TOYISH.
d. 1703. Pomfret, Dies Novissima. Adieu, ye toyish reeds that once could please My softer lips, and lull my cares to ease.
1903. Boothby, Long Live the King, viii. Hoighty-toity . . . what is the matter with you now?
6. (thieves').—A watch. Whence white TOY = a silver watch; red TOY = a gold watch; toy and tackle = watch and chain; toy-GETTER = a watch-snatcher.
1877. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. He was very tricky at getting a poge or a toy, but he would not touch toys because he was afraid of being turned over.
7. (Winchester).—In pl. = a bureau—desk and bookcase combined. Whence toy-time = evening preparation.
1440. Prompt. Parv. Teye, of a cofyr or forcer.
