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: 1400-1609, 1688
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Deforcear, Deforsar(e, n. Also: defforsar, deforcer. [f. Deforce v. Cf. AF. deforseor, -eour.]
1. The committer of a deforcement. 14.. Acts I. 357/2.
Gif ony complenȝeis … that wrangwisly he is defforsyt of his land … , the defforsar salbe sowmonde 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 322/2.
To hald courtis … and to punys trespassouris and deforsaris of him in his office 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 160.
How sone as he beis deforcit, … that the said officiar arrest all the gudis and geir pertening to the deforcear 1569 Ib. II. 74.
The dissobedience … is sa greit and commoun that the personis deforsaris and denuncit rebellis takis na feir thairof 1587 Acts III. 460/1.
That all deforcears of officiaris, in executioun of thair office, be summound [etc.] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 2.
Gif the deforcer is convict … of the said deforcement 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 244.
The said Archibald … not knowing that the messenger was deforced did meet … ane of the deforcers, who caught him by the shoulders
2. A ravisher or violator (of women). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 125/8.
Gif me ȝoure handis & faith that the adulterare and deforsare of me sall nocht leif vnpunyst
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"Deforcear n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/deforcear>
