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.
Demilance, n. Also: demy-, dimi-, demolance. [e.m.E. demy-launce (1544), F. demie lance.] A light horseman armed with a short lance.1570 Sat. P. xxiv. 5.
The Generall raid, with mony demylance, Downe to Dunbartaine, doand na man ill 1570 Leslie 211.
The Protectour caused prepair tua thousand … horsmen … , of the quhilkis thair wes … a thousand demilances 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 56.
The Inglis army come … to the nomber of … xviijc lycht horsemen and dimilances Ib. 176.
Thrie hundreth horsemen and demilances a1578 Pitsc. II. 97/24.
The protectour of Ingland … commandit the Lord Gray … to gif him charge of battell witht his greit horse and demolances [v.r. dimilanceis]
