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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.

Dewty, Deuty, n. Also: dewte, -tey, -tie, -ttie; devte, -tie, deute, -tie, -tye, di(e)ute. [ME. dewtee (c 1430), dewté, e.m.E. dewty(e, reduced f. deweté Dewité.] Duty.

1. = Dewité I.(a) 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. 153.
The dewteis concerning the officeris and seriandis, sic as apprysing of guidis [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2568.
Thay to him said it was na knichts dewtie a1578 Pitsc. I. 105/8.
I belieue clemencie to be the principall of all royall dewtieis c 1590 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 135.
I sall be rede to do ȝou the lyk plesour, as I awcht of dewte 1614 Melrose P. 178.
I assure your lordship, the cannonar hes don his dewtie in this seruice 1640 Rep. Maxwell Stuart Mun. 33.
Wheras we … out of our dewty … wer forced to joyne … in ane covenant(b) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 5/24.
Hes not mony … mysknawin thair deuty, quhilk we al aucht to our Lord God 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 10.
The principal salbe diligent that euery regeiit do hys devtie 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 39.
Agnes Rodman … was accusit of neclecting hir devtie tovard hir father c1650 Spalding I. 220.
Why the nobles and vtheris … cam not to his Majestie, according to thair bound deutie 1689 Leven & Melv. P. 194.
All his cunning will not debosh him from his deuty

2. = Dewité 3.(a) 1460 Ayr Chart. 34.
A fayr to be haldyn yerli … with all privilegis and dewteis pertenyng thareto 1515 Edgerston Writs MS. (Reg. H.).
Tenentis quhilk … payis nocht thar dewties and … ar convict be ane conding assys 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 55.
Thai sall pay twa schillingys … and ane pund of walx with the dewteis that are awyn 1557 Digest Justiciary Proc. B. 141.
Withaulding fra him … of the millerschip and knaifschip … with the mylne landis and dewteis of the said seruice 1581 Acts III. 236/2.
The ȝeirlie few maillis and dewteis of the saidis temporall landis 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 30.
[The Council] fynds it profittabill … that the rowmes of the stands in the clayth merkett suld pay ane resonabill dewty to the commoun guid 1604 Conv. Burghs II. 191.
Exacting ane dewty of foure punde of ilk last thairof [herring] for ground leife 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 72.
This impost and dewtie to be upliftit be the … awners of the coalehewes and salt pannes 1641 Acts V. 609/2.
That na persone tak customes or wther dewtyis belanging to the said burgh(b) 1504 Maxwell Mem. 225.
The said Iohne … payand … siclik malis, devteis, and dev seruice as the said Iohne hais pait to ws … in times bigane 1520 Red Bk. Menteith II. 370.
In the … inbringing of hir hienes males, fermes, mert siluer, and dieutez of hir said lordschip 1562 Carte Northberwic 85.
Gadderit … and vptuik the teynd fisches … as deutye and rycht pertening to hym 1599 Misc. Spald. C. II. 143.
That he hes bene in vse continuale be vptakin of males and deuteis of the saidis landis 1621 Grant Chart. 219.
All maillis, customeis and deutieis addebtit be himself 1663 Forbes Baron Ct. 237.
To pey ther deuties and byrinnis within tearm of lawe 1699 Conv. Burghs IV. 293.
Ane yearly deuty formerly in use of payment … called the assyse ale