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.
Misdoar, n. Also: mys- and -doare, -doer, -dour. [ME. (c 1320) and e.m.E. mys-, misdoer(e.]
a. A sinner, wrongdoer.a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 547.
Bot at mysdoaris lefe the syne & throw repentans cum to Hyme 1456 Hay I. 169/9.
Alexander the conquerour … was a grete tyrane … avaricious misdoare, luxurius and rycht vicious
b. Chiefly, an evil-doer, malefactor, offender, criminal.a1400 Leg. S. xl. 968.
The serefe … gert the mysdoaris bryng To curt 1397 Acts I. 208/1.
Gif ony of tha misdoeris fleys out of a schirefdom in ane other 1398–9 Ib. 211/1.
Manslaerys, reiferis, brynneris & generaly all mysdoeris c1420 Wynt. iii. 1032. Ib. vi. 1480. Ib. vii. 836. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 105 (A).
Gif he war … sic a misdoar that the pece of haly kirk acht nocht to deffende him 1456 Hay I. 301/16. Ib. 68/30.
For the law sais it is lesse evill to lat a mysdoare pas unpunyst c1475 Wall. vi. 848. Ib. ix. 203. a1500 Henr. Fab. 959 (Bann.).
I wait this suddane semblay … Is maid to mar sic misdoaris as me Ib. 1275. 1514 Acta Conc. MS. XXVI. 170.
The misdoaris ar the baldar to committ daily attemptatis 1526 Douglas Corr. 113.
The kingis grace … was at the myd marchis … for stanching of mysdouris 1528 Ib. 133. 1533 Boece iii. vi. 99 b. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 30. 1547 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 131.
That the said watches apprehend all misdoars, idill men … and putt thame in prisone 1549 Sutherland Chart. 108.
In cace the saidis … trespassouris be fugitive or strang mysdoaris 1551 Buccleuch Mun. 206. a1578 Pitsc. I. 83/20.
They war satisfieit of the thingis taine fre thame, quhairof the misdoaris war convickit 1622-6 Bisset I. 33/26. c1650 Spalding I. 50.
Ane herauld … to summond thir misdoeris … to compeir befoir the secreit counsall
