Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Debord, Deboird, v. Also: deborde, deboard. [F. déborder. Occas. in 17th c. English, but chiefly Sc.]

1. intr. Of a stream or body of water: To rise above the banks, to overflow. Also fig. c1590 Fowler II. 156/23.
A violent flood, rinning from the montains … whils as he is suillted and deborded ouerfloueth all the plane Ib. 157/8.
If he debord, his vehemencye sal not be so hurtfull 1587-99 Hume ii. 35.
His great beneficence … Abundantly deborded all, and flowing heir and there [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 486.
The sie … debordet and ran upe abon the sie-mark 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii. 316.
Violent streams do ever deface … and destroy all that they debord upon 1633 Id. Poet. Rem. 116.
The impetuous flood, debording from his banks

2. fig. To burst or break out; to exceed proper bounds; to run to excess. 1594 Colville Lett. 104.
Till the ambassadaris deborded in brave language 1600-1610 Melvill 135.
I hard him als dispytfullie … tak upe my uncle … as movit me … to almaist debord, nocht onlie with toung, bot hand 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 36.
James Grant … hes now … debordit in suche ane excess of insufferable villanie that [etc.] 1648 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 93.
All landward persones that beis fund … aither drunk, sweareing, cursing, or any wther way debording 1661 Brodie Diary 199.
I took liberti to goe abroad to Spring-garden, Tredah and other places, and was readi to debord 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. (1699) 38.
In fire-raising, the merciless element which is imployed, debords oft beyond its commission

3. To diverge or deviate.(a) 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI. 106.
Our moist loyall hairtis whilkis sall never deborde from the smallest of your maiesteis thoghtis 1625 Garden Kings 40.
His facts … Not much debordes, nor groslie disagrees … from thine 1638 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. App. xxv.
There be many coppies, … which do not debord from the saids registers, but are altogether agreeable thereto 1646 Baillie II. 384.
If in anything I have debordeit in either, I am willing … to correct my error(b) 1625 Garden Kings 14.
Thou forced for to fald Such as deboird from thy obedience darre 1629 Mure True Cruc. 817.
Doctrines deboarding from the written word 1639 Tumults Scotl. 386.
Yet their carriage [was] nothing thought to deboird from the duty of good subjects

4. To issue, go out, depart. 1657 Balfour Ann. II. 393.
All thesse … quho did debord from ther quarters, are miserablie massacared