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.
Deray, n. Also: deraye, derray, dirray. [ME. deray, derai (c 1300), OF. derai, derei, earlier desrei.]
1. Disturbance or disorderly action causing trouble or harm to others.1375 Barb. xv. 453.
Lordyngis, it war my will Till mak end of the gret deray, That Douglas makis vs ilk day ?1438 Alex. ii. 2660.
Gif thare wrath be or deray, Mak him ȝour freind and ȝour preue 1456 Hay I. 62/16.
Pompees remaynis of his men maid syk deray thare, that thai destroyit all that to the Romaynis pertenyt in that contree a1500 Henr. Fab. 1505.
The lyoun held to hunt, … And in the cuntrie maid ane greit deray 1513 Doug. vii. x. 77.
Amyd this deray, Thys hait fury of slauchtir, and fell affray Ib. ix. vi. 89.
Rhetus eik, lay walkand hard thame by, Behaldand all thar sterage and deray a1540 Freiris Berw. 536.
In thy depairting se thow mak no deray Vnto no wicht, bot frely pass thy way 15.. Clar. v. 2272.
The Constabill, … Sik wounder had to sie the grit deray Amongs the Knightis hurling on the feild
2. Disturbance or disorder; loud noise, din, outcry.c1420 Wynt. v. 2167.
Wyth gret bost and deraye, Off Frans to Rome he tuk the way Ib. 5027.
Off that scho mad sa gret deray, That scho gert all the Romanys say [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii. 2002.
He is … of fare hauing, gude and gay, Wele taucht and kynd but deray a1500 Henr. Fab. 932.
The dromedarie, gif he will mak deray, … I can him law als lytill als ane mous c1475 Wall. vi. 239.
The schirreff cryt: Quha makis that gret deray? a1500 Colk. Sow i. 208.
Than dyn rais and dirray c1500 Rowll Cursing 142.
With grit din and deray Compeir sall Sathan but delay 1513 Doug. viii. i. 4.
The trumpis blast and hornis made deray Ib. x. vii. 116.
Than he that set the kyndillyng … Behaldis quhou that the low doys mak deray, Blesand and crakand a1540 Freiris Berw. 201.
Ȝon is Symon that makis this deray
b. At deray, impetuously.?1438 Alex. ii. 1326.
Off hors and men [was] full great affray, And thay come prekand at deray Ib. 1830.
Clarus thame followit at deray Ib. 3072, etc.
To luke gif that thay may Gar vs prik at thame at deray
3. Disorderly or noisy mirth; revelry.?1438 Alex. ii. 2732.
Quhen we war at the wod to play, We wist na thing of ȝour deray c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxviii. 14.
For din, nor dancing, nor deray, It will nocht walkin me no wise 1513 Doug. i. xi. heading.
Of the banket, and of the gret deray, And quhou Cupyd inflambis the lady gay Ib. xiii. viii. 105.
Joy and myrth, with dansyng and deray, Full mery noys, and sovndis of gam and play 15.. Christis Kirk 2.
Was nevir in Scotland hard nor sene Sic dansing nor deray a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 85.
Thir gay gallandis with thair dres and deray
4. Array.1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 33.
That … the saidis wobstaris pas all togidder … with thair banneris and vtheris derayis in processionis 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 155.
Ilkane of thaim … to cum … furneist in thair harnes … [and] to be in thair best deray
