Forms: 4 biwei, 5 bye-waye, 6 bie-, by-waie, 9 bye-way, 5– by-way. [f. BY- 3 b + WAY.]

1

  1.  A way other than the highway; a side road; a secluded, private, obscure or unfrequented way.

2

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., 10145 (Rolls Ser.). By a bywey [v.r. bigate] to Totenes lay, Cador & hyse toke þat way.

3

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxxii. 65. Ðat kennyd þame a by way.

4

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 28. That path he kept, which beaten was most plaine, Ne ever would to any by-way bend.

5

1611.  Bible, Judg. v. 6. In the dayes of Iael … the traueilers walked thorow by-wayes.

6

1708.  Motteux, Rabelais, V. xxvi. (1737), 114. Highways, Crossways, and Byways.

7

1860.  Adler, Fauriel’s Prov. Poetry, xi. 239. Totally unacquainted with the by-ways of the forest.

8

  2.  transf. or fig.; often depreciatively.

9

1488.  Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyldr., 23. Suche a man cometh lightly in to a byewaye and for many errours he slideth ful folyly.

10

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. lvii. 17. He turneth him self, and foloweth ye bywaye of his owne hert.

11

1697.  Dryden, Virg., Ess. Georg. (1721), I. 203. A Precept that enters it [the Understanding] as it were thro’ a By-way.

12

1768–78.  Tucker, Lt. Nat., II. 611. Children drawn into the world through this by-way are looked upon as a burden.

13

1846.  D. Jerrold, Chron. Clovernook, Wks. IV. 439. The by-ways and short-cuts to wealth.

14

1848.  Mrs. Jameson, Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850), 195. A friend, learned in all the byways … of Italian literature.

15

  3.  attrib.

16

1661.  Hickeringill, Jamaica, 84. Undisputed Titles need not … by-way stratagems to ensure their Negotiations.

17

1720.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5910/4. All Bye-Way and Cross-Road Letters are to be paid for.

18

  4.  advb. genitive (cf. crossways) or ? plural cognate object: with quot. 1725 cf. BY a. 1.

19

1549.  Latimer, Serm. bef. Edw. VI., ii. (Arb.), 56. The Iewes … take vpon them to breke lawes and to go by wayes.

20

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1703), II. VIII. 410. Marching by-ways … they likewise passed over the Thames.

21

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 311. Carrying them by-ways and unfrequented.

22