Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 blay, 7 bley, blee; 8–9 Sc. blae. [Prob. imitative of the sound; perhaps with associations of bleat, blab, blabber, etc. Jamieson compares F. bêler, L. balāre: cf. OSlav. blejati to bleat, also Gr. βληχάομαι I bleat, βληχή bleating, with the same initial sound. Variously pronounced in dialects (blē, blīo, blī).]
intr. To bleat as a lamb or kid; to cry piteously as a child. Hence Blaying, bleying vbl. sb.
1568. Jacob & Esau, IV. vi. in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 237. Methinketh I hear a young kid blea!
1581. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, ix. Tell her in your piteous blaying Her poor slaves unjust decaying.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 242. In their sleepe, they seeme to low or blea, and thereupon they be called Sea-calues.
1617. F. Moryson, Itin., III. I. i. 10. The bleying of Sheepe.
1623. J. Taylor (Water P.), Merry Wh. (1885), 15. Cocks did crow, and lambs did bleat and blee.
