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.
Quotation dates: 1490-1599
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Devour(e, v. [ME. devoure (c 1315), OF. devour-, stressed stem of devorer Devore v.] tr. To devour (in fig. senses). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 82/26.
The huge and horrible dragoune that besettis oure way to deuour and suelly ws c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 49.
He hes done petuously devour, The noble Chaucer, of makaris flour c1500-c1512 Ib. x. 5.
The cleir sone, quhome no clud devouris 15.. Clariodus i. 1228.
Than daith sall me devoure but remedie a1578 Pitsc. I. 270/15.
The king sould haue no displesour at the on half [of the army] quhill the other sould be devourit
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"Devour v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/devoure>
