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.
Quotation dates: 1570-1640
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Dascan(t, v. Also: daskan, dascon. [e.m.E. descant (c 1510). Cf. Daskane.] a. intr. To discourse, discuss, or consider. b. tr. To explain, make clear. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 11.
This claus … has caused men to dascant that he knew more than comone simple men vnderstoode ? 1579 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii. 227.
They daskand farther: What if the Quene war deid, Quha suld be nixt, or to the croun succeid? 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xxiv.
Than did I dascan with my sell, Quhidder to heuin or to hell, Thir persouns suld pertene 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii. 328.
To dascon this, remarke, when they set land [etc.] 1640 Id. Poet. Rem. 168.
Who can expresse that glory there reveal'd? The eye, the minde, nor tongue can dascon this!
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"Dascan v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dascant>
