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.
Misordo(u)r, n. Also: mys- and -ord(o)ur(e, -order, missordour. [ME. (c 1400) and e.m.E. mis-, mysorder.]
1. The absence of proper order or arrangement in organising anything, disorganisation.c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 349.
He rebuikis them for the abvse and misordour that thai hade about the sacrament of the body ande blude of Christ 1528–9 Balfour Pract. 312.
Because of the greit misordour in calling of summondis be tikkettis and importunitie of the greit men 1529 Conv. Burghs I. 508.
Throgh misordour and ourseing of the pereuilegis grantit be kingis of Scotland … to the merchandis tharof 1548 Acts Sederunt i. 49.
The gret hurt of our souerane ladeis liegis throch the want of justice and misordour in administracione therof 1567 Dundee B. Ct. in Lockit Bk. 17 b.
In respect of the gryit misordour of persones … pretendand to be friemen [etc.] 1580 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 458.
Be the confusion and misorder of the plurality of kirks sustained in the person of one pastor or minister 1584 St. A. Kirk S. 533.
Misordour … enterit in the ower great number of witnes or gossoppis to the barnis that ar baptizit in this kirk
2. The want of public order or the condition of lawlessness resulting from this, public disorder, misrule.c 1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I. p. cxi.
Sik mysordour and crudelite bypast 1523 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIV. 17.
Thar was throw misordour … divers rubryis and spulȝeis committit 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3148.
How sic misordour in this realme sould ring 1622-6 Bisset I. 79/28.
Be the misknawlaige and ignorance of the samin lawes, all misordoure … procedis
3. The want of order or discipline in an army or other body of persons, undisciplined state, confusion.1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 241.
I traist that thir caussis was the tynsall of the jeornay of Penke … and misordour of the army, and our greit haist but ordour 1562-3 Winȝet I. 122/12.
Quhow can ȝe … defend ȝour conuenticulis fra a babilonical confusioun and diabolical misordour 1613 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 9.
The eldership complainit upon the great desolation and misorder among them through lack of ane resident pastour 1639 Baillie I. 147.
When we mett, the multitude of men and speech put us in misorder
4. Action in violation of established order, irregularity, illegality. Also b. an instance of this.1562-3 Winȝet I. 27/4.
To attempt sic proude misordour sall … big vp ane wal betuixt vs and ȝou in religioun Ib. 44/14.
In the defending of sa vngodlie misordour agains the ordinance … of God 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 201.
That grit misorder vsed in Striveling at the last parliament in criateing bischopis 1577 Crail B. Ct. MS. 17 Oct.
Thair hes bene gryt mysordour vsit … in gadderyng and lesing off corne 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 134. 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 3. 1609 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 1068.
We cannot but remember also the misorder creeping in the countrie, … the wearing of gunnes and pistolls c1630 Scot Narr. 20.b. c1630 Scot Narr. 139.
In the last proclamation his majesty expected reparation of all misorders at the nixt assembly 1637 Baillie I. ii.
A parliament … which might obtain all misorders there redressed
5. Conduct in breach of public order, unruly or lawless conduct, lawlessness.1553 Reg. Privy S. IV. 385/2.
For serving of my lord governouris grace in repressing of all attemptatis and misordour upoun the middill merchis 1556 Sutherland Corr. 3.
Neill McKy … hes maid grete misordour and slauchter in the partis of Straithnaverne 1561 Crim. Trials I. i. 409.
Thai wer … chargit … to pas abak and devyid thame of the said burghe for eschewing of trouble and misordour in the samyn 1562 Inverness Rec. I. 94.
To meyne to the authoritie on the mysordour of the inhabitantis of the towne 1578–9 Elgin Rec. I. 153.
Be his misordour within this burgh 1585 Forres B. Ct. 29 Nov.
Of grett misordur and stouthe within the said toun 1587 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 60.
The bailleis and counsaill … , haueing consideratioun of the misordour and tumult of the puir folkis sittand at the kirk dur 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 39.
Sundrie godles persouns … vaigs throw the streitts makand all kynd of mysordour 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 892.
Thair hes bene yeirly upon Trinitie Sonday … ane evill custume of pyping, dansing, drinking and misordour 1615 Brechin Kirk S. 12 Sept.
Anent the great trouble and misordour done by ane licht woman 1625 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II. 31 Aug.
Grisall … and Christain … convict in scalding & flytting & misorder 1628 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 120.
That they may convein without any gritt din, misordour or molesting ane another
b. An instance of this, an unruly, lawless or rebellious act; a disturbance, commotion, riot, mutiny, outrage.1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 252.
The makaris of the said misorder ar all indwellaris … of your said town 1558-66 Knox II. 158.
The magistratis … apprehendit ane of the principall of that misordour, … a cordinare 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III. 80. 1597 Elgin Rec. II. 61.
Baillie Allexander Annand to await on the cros that na disordour or baudrie be committed thair 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 63.
William Hendirsone … accused of misorder done be him in the kirk 1613 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 12 (3 Feb.).
To anser for the misordour committit at the futball 1614 Bk. Islay 196.
If thei hawe done any misorder that thei wald hawe remissioun 1622-6 Bisset II. 221/17. 1639 Dundonald Par. Rec. 443.
For quhilk misordour he was injuned to pay twelve shillingsplur. 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 129.
No persoun within this realme takes thought quhat unhappie deid he sall tak upon hand, quhilk … apears to growe to sic misorderis that [etc.] 1567 Reg. Morton I. 18.
Schir James Balfour … being cairfull for the misordouris above writtin … promises to ayd and assist vnto ws 1609 Crim. Trials III. 50.
We have hard … how far ȝour hienes is discontented with the governament of this estaitt as of the haill missordouris and accidentis that fallis out heir c1615 Chron. Kings 18.
Adrianus … arrywing in Brittane … to pacifie sick misordouris … aganis his impyir 1640 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 478.
We hoped, if our camp had been a little settled, to have gotten some way for these misorders
