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: 1438, 1566-1699
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Decay, n. Also: decaye, dicay, dekay. [ME. (rare) decay (c 1460), e.m.E. dekay (1523), decay. Cf. Dekey n.]
1. Downfall, death. ?1438 Alex. ii. 62.
Quhan thay of Grece … Sesit in Gaderis the nobill pray, That mony ane brocht to decay
2. Decayed or declining condition; loss of prosperity or welfare. 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 446.
Thair Hienessis … commandit all thing quhilk wes fallin in decay to be amendit and bet c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii. 7.
Of the weked, thair vice and grit decaye a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS clxxx. 74.
I pray to God … Oure souerane saif fra dolour & dicay 16.. Hist. Kennedy 22.
Fra he seis … the dekay of his hous, he will not leiff
3. A failing in health; a ‘decline’. 1659-60 Hay Diary 137.
Sir John Hay … died of a decay in the French disease 1671 Lauderdale P. II. 211.
He hade found a decay upon himself for a long tyme 1699 Greyfriars Interments 36.
Alexander Bailie Baird, merchant, a child, … died of decay
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"Decay n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/decay_n>
