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.
Misericord(e, n. Also: misercord. [ME. (a 1315) and e.m.E. mis-, mysericord(e, OF. misericorde, L. misericordia, from as Misericord(e,a.]
1. Compassion, pity, mercy.Also to do (= show) one misericord.1456 Hay II. 159/36.
I wald be mercifull and do thame misericorde Ib. 160/36.
The quhilk askit him misercord and pitee 1490 Irland Mir. I. 112/13.
The noble lady and emprice … Dame Misericord 1549 Compl. 72/19.
Quhy vil ȝe nocht haue misericord & pytie of ȝour natiue cuntre c1552 Lynd. Mon. 463.
Haueyng of man misericorde [God] Send doun His onelye sonne Jesu Ib. 1100.
Than cryit thay boith misericorde 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 8 b.
Quhow greit as is the magistie of the Lorde As gwid is his mercifull misericorde 1608 Elphinstone Chart. 178.
Out of your most royalle misericorde, declaire your princely will
2. A short sword or dagger.Orig., as med. L. misericordia, F. miséricorde, that used ‘to threaten an overthrown enemy and compel him to surrender by asking for mercy’ (Larousse).1456 Hay II. 47/15, 20.
Thare is gevin to the knycht his lytill schort suerd, that sum callis misericorde, in signifyand that quhen he has implyde his spere [etc.] … than is it gude at schort strakis; and it is callit outhir schort suerd or misericord; for cause that a knycht suld nocht all traist in his … wapnis bot in his awin vertu and in Him that maid him and in His merci
