A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Miscary, -ie, v. Also: miskary, -cayrie, myscary, miscarry, -ie. P.t. and p.p. -caryit, -cariit, -careit, -caryd, -kareit, etc. [ME. (c 1325) and e.m.E. mis-, myscary(e, -carie, -kary, e.m.E. miscarrie, -y: cf. OF. meskarier to go from the right path.]
1. passive. To be miscaryit.a. Of persons: To come to harm; also spec., to be harmed in one's wits, to be driven or made insane, distracted or frenzied. b. Of things: To be spoiled or ruined. c. Of a letter: To go astray, fail to arrive.a. (1) a1500 Seven S. 1282.
For dreid or that ȝe be miscarijt Ȝe bannis all ȝone sagis sevyn 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1279 (Ch.).
Thairfoir we reid ȝow rin areir In dreid ȝe be miscaryit a1568 Jok & Jynny 43.
Now, deme, I haif ȝour bairne mareit … I latt ȝow wit schos nocht miskareit(2) 1513 Doug. ii. xi. 108.
Than wod for wo, so was I quyte myscaryit 1614 Fraserburgh Kirk S. I. 30.
[He] confessis … that he haid done theis thingis beand at that tyme miscareit with sum euill spreitb. 15.. Sym & Bruder 68.
The meit is all miskareitc. 1651 Douglas Corr. 258.
I perswad my self still my letters and my sisters have been miscaryed that you came not to us heer
2. tr. To ruin.a. To spoil, botch (a literary work). b. To lead astray, seduce (a girl). c. (In a physical sense): To carry to destruction.1513 Doug. i. Prol. 486.
Sum wald swer … that I haue this volume quyte myscareit a1568 Scott i. 75.
It maid na mis quhat madinnis thai miscareit 1632 Lithgow Trav. 262.
If any of them had missed [his footing], his sliding downe had miscarried them both ouer the rocke
3. reflex. To do oneself harm, to go wrong.1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 57.
Maister, quhairto sould I my self miskary
4. intr. Of a thing: To go wrong, to fail, to be spoiled.1629 Justiciary Cases I. 107.
And sa could nevir haif cassin sorcerie upone him or Jonet Hodge his wyfe to caus hir butter misthryve or miscayrie
5. reflex. and intr. To misconduct oneself, misbehave, behave wrongly or badly.reflex. 1632 Lithgow Trav. 348.
[They] may not marry, and yet may mis-carry themselues in all abhominations 1640 Cuningham Journal 47. 1640 Edinb. Surgeons 153.
Confesing that he hes miscaryed and misbehaved him selff towardis the haill bretherene 1642 Dundonald Par. Rec. 505.
David Wallace … and John Conynghame … was overtane with drink and miscaried themselfs by streking at doors 1646 Soc. Ant. IV. 466. 1664 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 45.
Finniesoune that makis the graves … does … miscarie himselfe shamfullieintr. 1648 Sc. Ant. IV. 27.
Those who had miscaried with this deboshed crewe from Stirling 1661 Laing MSS. I. 283.
Those who hath miscaryd to us 1663 Alford Rec. 24.
The said Elspet having miscarried profanely … with one David Leyth, a tinker 1668 Cullen Kirk S. 6 Sept.
If they miscarrie so again 1669 J. Stuart Hist. Sketches Fowlis Easter (1865) 149.
That he should not miscarry to his mother again after that manner 1671 Kingarth Par. Rec. 78.
Finding John M'Cirdie … several times miscarying by drinking
b. intr. To do wrong, or fall short, in one's duty. —1665 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 28 Apr.
If he evir … miscarrie in his duetie … he sall be punisched
