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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.
Dousan(e, Doussan(e, n. Also: doussand, douzain(e; dowssane, -ene, dowzane, -sand; doosane, -sen, -zen. [Variants of Dusane. Cf. Dosane, and e.m.E. dousaine, dousen, douzen.] A dozen.For the use in the early Peebles records see Dusane.(a) 1462 Peebles B. Rec. 147.
That na commoun … be nother set na gewyn in perpetuale bot with [= by] the dousan 1474 Ib. 172.
The quhilk day was chossyng the dousan 1517 Treas. Acc. V. 118.
j dousan akkin sparris 1525–6 Ib. 255.
iv dousan boultis 1590 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 150.
Fyftie markis money togidder with foure dousane burges ladis coilis(b) 1459 Peebles B. Rec. 134.
The eldest … with the chossyng doussane sytand and decretand thairapon 1471 Ib. 166.
The quhilk day is chossyng the doussan be the lection of court 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 13.
Seing thaim chessed with … about a half doussane horsmen 1593 Elgin Rec. II. 33.
The fischar wyves to be poyndit of a doussand haddokis 1601 Ib. 90.
He is content to resaiff ane doussane of strypes at the Thron(c) 1463 Peebles B. Rec. 150.
That ilke day was chossyng the dowssane for the reformatioun of the town 1470 Ib. 164.
The last chossyng dowssan efter Mechelmes c 1535 Liber Dryburgh 336.
vij dowssene powltre a1578 Pitsc. I. 367/19.
The King of France caussit his maister stabillaris to … waill ane dowssane of the best [horse] 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 207.
Sevin dowsand of braid to your cursour and broun geldin 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Serplath.
Twelue dowzane of glooues, or ledder poyntes, makis ane grosse 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 56.
The wiccarag of Burray … in boit teind ane dowssane maid fische(d) 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 256.
To nominat … the nowmer of ane douzain of personis 1674 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 218.
Fyve douzaine of bigger buttons(e) 1605 Edinb. Test. XL. 205 b.
Twa doosane plaittis, … tua doosane truncheouris 1642–3 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 507.
For twa doosane lather buckats — 1611 Rep. Mar & Kellie MSS. 67.
28 doosen of buttons 1654 Edinb. Test. LXVIII. 3.
Ane doozen of round naprie 1696 S. Leith Rec. 182.
The Session … appoints the thesaurer to cause bake eight doozen of loaves
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"Dousan n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dousane>