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.
Delay, v. Also: deley, dilay. [ME. delaye, -laie (a 1300), OF. delaier, -layer.]
1. tr. To defer, postpone, put off.1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/2.
The day on the Est Marche sall be delaied … to be halden on the xxix day of May 1411 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 30.
The court delait the determinatioun till ane othir court 1443 Reg. Great S. 86/2.
Tulch maid instance to ger that actione be delayit … to the next hede courte 1450 Coll. Aberd. & B. 234.
That the brefe of perambulacioun … sal be … dilayit until Monunday a1500 Seven S. 1165.
The emprys herd that day delayd a1500 Doug. K. Hart 147.
Lat nocht this mater, schir, be lang delayit 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. 8 b.
The inqueist delais this mater quhil thai be ferder avyssit & speir the .maner c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. clv. 18.
Suffir not thi hand thi hecht delay 1562-3 Winȝet II. 33/26.
It is a iust requeist, and nocht lang to be delayt a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxi. 64.
We laubour iustice to delay 1598 Crim. Trials II. 65.
The samin aucht nawyis be delayit in respect of ony assoinȝie of seiknes c 1650 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 144.
His earrends ar eather deleyed or neglected
2. intr. To defer action; to wait.a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 320.
Thame to helpe thu has delait, Quhene thai ful pytuisly thé prayt c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 138.
Thay no time delayit 1528 Carnwath Baron Ct. 38 b.
Thai delait to the nixt court in hop of concordans a1578 Pitsc. I. 120/15.
The langer he delayit he wald be the fewar nomber
