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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dar, v. Also: darr(e, dare, dayre, der. P.t. durst, dwrst, durse, dirst. [ME. dare, dar, der, ONhb. darr, OE. dearr. The form dare is rare in Sc., but may sometimes be implied in dar'.]

1. (I, he, etc.) dare(s) or venture(s).a. (a) 1375 Barb. i. 403.
Till Ector dar I nane comper 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
I trayst he has saide mar in myn absence than he dar awow in my presens c1420 Wynt. i. 547.
For bestys wylde … Is nane of lywe that thar dar duelle 1432 Lamont P. 13.
As fer as he or tha der ?1438 Alex. i. 2743.
Ane thing suithly say I dar 1456 Hay I. 28/34.
Thai … dar nocht … say othirwayis Ib. II. 149/32.
Undoying secretly gif thay dar nocht opynly a1500 Henr. III. 136/13.
Quhat freik on fold sa bald dar manis me a1500 Seven S. 1178.
I dar' lay my hed in wage c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 65.
Thow speiris … , gif I dar with the fecht? 1513 Doug. xii. vi. 127.
Thai … That dar with wapynnys me assay 1522 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIII. 38 b.
He nor his wif … dar nocht compeir … for dreid of thair lifis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 177.
How dar ye … pretend sic thingis aganis me and my servandis? 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1044.
I dar not speik for feir of deid 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 99.
I haue laid my compt … Lat thaim reply, gif ather thai can or dar 1596 Dalr. I. 99/20.
The horse thay dar nocht schoe with yrne schone 1607 Rep. Menzies MSS. 19.
Insofar as such a handfull … dar presome to continew rebellious 1666 Carstaires Lett. 159.
She often saying … that she dar not but hop he will be gracious(b) c1420 Wynt. i. 1171.
Quhar na man dare repayre na duelle For het off swn c1508 Balade (Ch. & M.) 10.
I na dare, my hert it is so sare 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 63.
Becaus ye dare [v.r. darre] nocht commit yow to the handis of vtheris 1638 Hamilton P. 51.
Ther is not anie laueire heire that … dayre undertak his charge ther(c) 1566 Bk. Univ. Kirk. I. 87.
That power that … darre extoll itself c 1590 Douglas Corr. 35.
All tortis that any darr offer to ather of you 1604 Craig i. 21.
Let Pluto now compare with vs … if he darr 1649 Blairs P. 23.
Dauid Lesley … darre not venture further then Aberdeen 1664 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 204.
Who darre bee so bold to winke or nod? 1676 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 568.
That he should darr to assert his having of a letter [etc.]b. 1375 Barb. i. 438.
The byschop … durst than spek till him na mar a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 617.
Hyr brethyr, as thai durse, Wald bryng [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii. 3360.
How thai … Swa hey a thyng durst tak on hand 1456 Hay I. 64/14.
Thare durst nane cum on him allane c1475 Wall. i. 342.
Schir Ranald weylle durst nocht hald Wallas thar 1513 Doug. i. vii. 134.
This wench stowtly recontir durst with men c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1308.
Nane durst cum … Within the boundis of his brand 1570 Sat. P. xiv. 49.
Quhome thow nor nane of thyne dirst face a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxv. 150.
Quhen men wes sueir & durst not steir 16.. Hist. Kennedy 25.
The Laird wes sa … seik, that he dwrst nocht wse mekill langage

2. (Thou) darest. a1400 Leg. S. x. 382.
How dar thu … Fra thi lorde tak hyre [= her] to thé c1420 Wynt. vii. 71.
Gyve othir thow may, or dare, or wille Ib. viii. 6671. c1475 Wall. iii. 361.
Quhi, Scot, dar thow nocht preiff 1600 Crim. Trials II. i. 156.
Mr Thomas said to him, ‘ȝeall theiff! dar thow?’

3. In the phrases I dar say, lay, tak on hand, etc., used to support an assertion. 1375 Barb. xviii. 282.
Than, certis, said he, I dar say [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. i. 89.
I dar weill say, he suld haf bene … honouryt ?1438 Alex. i. 319.
Thair was nane thar, I dar say, Sa hardy c1420 Ratis R. 1089.
It sal lyk the, dare I lay a1500 Seven S. 2181.
Thai are the causis, I dar' wele saye, That [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 23.
Ontill my lady, I dar lay, ȝe be to pure a presoneir c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1403.
Nocht Hercules, I dar weill say 15.. Clar. i. 129.
I dar take on hand