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: 1375-1615
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Discomfitour(e, n.2 Also: dyscumfytowre, discumfitour(e, -itur(e; disconfitour, -fitor, -feitour, -fetoure, -futoure, disconfiture. [ME. discumfiture (Chaucer), descom-, desconfiture (c 1330), med. L. discom-, discumfitura (1239).] Discomfiture in battle; defeat.(a) 1375 Barb. xiii. 276.
Thai scalit in tropellis ser, And till discumfitur war ner 1375 Ib. xx. 527.
This Pirrus had On him and on his menȝe mayd Ane outrageous discumfitour c1420 Wynt. viii. 2261.
Thar thai come on, and layid on fast, Swa made thai the dyscumfytowre a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 829.
Sir Gawan than vpone such wys hyme bure, This othere goith al to discumfitoure a1500 Ib. 2642.
Thei … fled, and goith one to discumfiture(b) 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 294/7.
This Quanour heryng the discomfitour of hir folkis … passit to ane abbay 1531 Bell. Boece I. 230.
The Pichtis, brokin be this last discomfitoure, set thaim [etc.] 1533 Id. Livy I. 65/13.
On quhom Tullus followit … & brocht thame to vtir discomfitoure c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 585.
Leue we thair Talbart sair annoyit … of that discomfitour 1558-66 Knox I. 86.
The greatast nomber, that ever appeared … befoir the discomfitour, past nott thre or foure hundreth men(c) 1456 Hay I. 170/12.
Thai wan thair inymyes, and put thame to confusioun and disconfiture 15.. Clariodus i. 73.
So long induiring without disconfitour 1570 Leslie 96.
His pepill hald that vane opinione that he escapit fra that disconfiture [at Flodden] alyve 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 224.
Nota, the disconfutoure done at the querrell holis besyd Halyrudhous 1572-5 Ib. 225.
This conflict wes ane greit disconfetoure to the saidis lordis of the nobilitie c1615 Chron. Kings 64.
Edward … myndfull to rewendge the disconfitour of his pepill … enterit in Scotland
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"Discomfitour n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/discomfitoure>
