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.
Demy, n. Also: demye, dimy, dummy. [App. ellipt. for OF. demi-couronne, a half-crown of gold.] A gold coin of varying value current in the 15th and 16th centuries.1438 Exch. R. V. 67.
Diversas pecias auri tam majores quam minores, de aureis vocatis vulgariter dimyis extractas 1451 Acts II. 40/1.
Efter the cours of the said proclamacione the demy that now rynnis for ix s. sal ryn than for vj s. viij d. and the half demy for iij s. iiij d. 1468 Acts II. 92/1.
That … the demy, the lyone, … and the small penny, … sal haue the same cours thai hade of befor the first proclamacione made in the parliament 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 69.
Gevin at the Kingis commande, … to Ireland king of armis of Inglande, to his expensis xxti demyis 1478 Acta Aud. 60/2.
Awaytakin of … gudis to the somme of xvj dummyis of gold, ix Inglis hary nobillis and a nobie of rose 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 80.
A poik of canwes with demyis contenand aucht hundreth, ane les 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 549.
The Franche crown [at] xj s., ane crovn with the halff commonly callit the Scottis crovn and demy, ten s. 1540 Maxwell Mem. I. 411.
Sax wnicornis, tua slicht crownis, … ane demy c 1578 Ib. 311.
Ane demye, ane crowne of the sone, ane vnicorne
