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: 1566, 1617-1672
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Differ, n.1 [f. Differ v.3]
1. A difference of opinion; a disagreement or dispute. In differ, in dispute.(1) 1566 Protocol Book of D. Gray 29.
The scheip that standis in differ betuix … his gud sister and hym c 1618 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.).
The thousand merkis quhilk was in differ betuix the barroun Oichyll and the captan of the Clanrannald 1627 P. Forbes Eubulus vi. 94.
No such materiall poynts are in differ betwixt vs(2) 1622 Criminal Trials III. 525.
Ane differ being betuix Cuthbert Greg and Cristiane Grahame for ane dog quhilk Cristiane desyret fra him 1641 Wemyss Corr. 68.
Nothinge that micht be any occasion of differ or debet 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 343.
That the visitour or deakin may judge betwixt maister and prenteis, … in caice any differ of importance aryse
2. A difference in kind. 1617 Sutherland Corr. 133.
Ther is onley the differ betuix letteris off captioune and ane commissioune 1672 Brodie Diary 332.
What great differ is ther in the gifts of thes that ar laid by, and thes that ar keipd and admitted
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"Differ n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/differ_n_1>
