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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.

Des(e, Deis, n. Also: deys, deise, deice, deische; dyse, dyce, dice; deas, deese. [ME. des (c 1300), dese, dece, variants of deis, deys, OF. deis. Cf. Dais.]

1. The raised platform at the end of a hall, on which the high table was placed; the high table itself.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 5240.
Syne efter nixt sat Arrestes, Richt at the first end of the des c1450-2 Howlat 776.
He couth cary the cowpe of the kingis des c1475 Wall. ii. 342.
Scho had him wp to Wallace by the des a1500 Henr. Fab. 236 (A).
A modicum is fer mair till allowe, Sa at gud will be carvour at the des a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1154.
Of that mighty na ma War set at the des a1500 Seven S. 2423.
The lady than began the dese With hir awne husband at the mese 1513 Doug. i. xi. 7.
The quene was set at des Vndir hir gloryus stentit capitale Ib. iii. iv. 30.
Syne eftir, … Vp sonkis [we] set, and desys dyd array(b) c1450-2 Howlat 684.
Kyngis and patriarkis … Addressit thaim to that deis, and dukis so deir a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 66.
The sylour deir of the deise dayntely wes dent With the doughtyest in thair dais 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 58.
Bustuus hie Poliphemus set at deys Thar remanys Ib. iv. xi. 46.
Ascanyus mycht I nocht Haue … maid a meys To his fader tharof to eyt at deys 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10156.
Alexander was set at the hie deis, With the emprice, and the empreour at meis a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxv. 17.
Deir on deis and thow be dicht, And syn sittis drowpand lyk ane daa(c) 1535 Stewart 32067.
With mony ding lord sittand at his deische [: meis] 15.. Clar. v. 107.
Cloth of gold … Above the deice wes royallie upstent Ib. 1031.
The Oueine of Ingland sat at the hie dice

b. A platform in the open air. 1535 Stewart 33,619.
On ane know … That stane wes set vpoune ane deis conding

2. Chamber of des(e, a chamber situated at the daisend of a hall and serving as a private room or bedchamber; latterly, a best room or parlour.(a) 1510 Stirlings of Keir 293.
In the chalmer of des of the said hall, a waist stand bed, wyth a waist press 1520 Prot. Bk. G. Ros 76.
[Two chambers, namely] a chamber of des [and another chamber in the gable of the hall] 1523 Ib. 120.
[William Rankin entered the hall of Scheld and] the chamber of des within the hall 1684 Glamis Bk. Rec. 39.
A spatious old hall and off it the thing which they called the chamber of des 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 369.
The high halle … The chamber of desse(b) 1565 Glasgow Prot. III. 66.
The heicht hows, … with hall, chalmer of deis, and the heycht loftis 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 320.
In the hall, thre stand burdis … In the chalmer of deis, ane stand bed Ib.
In the chalmer of deis of the over hall … , twa stand beddis 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 214.
My almerie standand in the chalmer of deis 1600 Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 512/2.
Corslettis with collaris and murrionis in the chalmer of deis 1623 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 459.
This wes done within the chalmer of deis of the said place of Balloch(c) 1636 Thanes of Cawdor 281.
In the chalmer of deice ane stande bed of aike 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 358.
In the chamber of dyce … a suit of fyne arras hingings 1731 Creichton Mem. 97 (J).
The chamber where he lay was called the chamber of deese, … a room where the laird lies when he comes to a tenant's house(d) 1615 Haddington Mem. II. 289.
In the chalmer of deas, of pallesses i [etc.] 1633 M. Works Acc. XXVI. 5.
iij^c fluiring naill to the chalmer of dease 1635 Haddington Mem. II. 301.
In the chamber of dease, ane bedstead of wanscott, ane draw-bed, [etc.] 1635 Soc. A nt. II. 18.
Thair portraits … are sett up in the chalmer of deas of Balloch

3. A desk or pew in a church. 1566 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 161.
The queyr with twa durris and bandis, foure desis with thair settis 1598 Ellon Presb. 22.
To plenische the kirk with forms and gentlemen to put up deases 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI. 619.
[He is not to remove or break] Currours deas or seate in the parish kirk of Innerboyndie c1650 Spalding I. 86.
The bischop … causit lay doun ane seruice book vpone the reidaris deas, and vpone sum other gentlemenis deassis besyde Ib. 310.
The generall assemblie sat doun within the Gray Freir kirk of New Abirdein, well plenishit with deassis and seatis be the toun