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.
Misserve, -serwe, v. [ME. (1340) and e.m.E. misserve, mys(se serve: cf. OF. messervir.] a. tr. To serve badly, to fail to serve. b. To deprive of the services of. c. intr. Of a firearm: To misfire. —a. 1584 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 54.
Quhilk [regrating of victual] is … the caus that the pure commounis of this burght ar misservit 1649 Misc. Spald. C. V. 229.
The haill tennentis … gois to the brugh and sellis thair foulls, quhairthrow the lairds hous is altogidder misserweit —b. 1456 Hay I. 147/19.
Sen he … mycht … have had otheris at will and wale, of quhilkis he has gert the King be misservit —c. 1661 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 10.
George presented a pistoll to them which misserved 1661 A. Jaffray Diary (1833) 23.
To try them [two pistols] if they would misserve again, he put out the candle at which he shot
