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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Delay, n. Also: delaye, dellay, deley, dilay. [ME. delaie (c 1275), delay(e, OF. delai.] The act of delaying or putting off. Freq. in phr. but or without (mare, langer, etc.) delay.(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 388.
He thocht, but mar delay, Into the manland till arywe a1400 Leg. S. xxxix. 309.
I sal anter me But delay to pas with thé c1400 Troy-bk. i. 189.
Iasone but langare delay Callit Phylotes c1420 Wynt. v. 5167.
Hys leve he tuk but mare delay Ib. vi. 1994.
But delay or ony lete 1446 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 312.
That ȝhe gife herytabill state of sesing … bute delay … to the said Robert 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 329.
The said Iames … sall pay … sewyn hundretht merkis … but ony langer delay a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 134.
Than but delay scho went vnto the montane 1566 Fleming Q. Mary 500.
And this ye feill nocht to do but ony delay c1590 J. Stewart 36/230.
Heir but delay to die 1594 Wemyss of Bogie MS.
Betuix this day and [etc.] … but langer delay(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1493.
Thai sall … tak vpon hand To cum on ȝow without delay ?1438 Alex. i. 2980.
With that, withoutin mare delay, Thai dressit thame for thair iusting 1456 Hay I. 49/3.
Thai … withoutin langer delay armyt thre hunder schippis a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 579.
Thi misdeid amend without delaye c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 141.
Than wrait I all without delay 1526 Acts II. 313/1.
He sall bring the writingis … without langare delay a1540 Freiris Berw. 227.
Withowttin ony mair delay, Scho castis of haill hir fresch array 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
His decreit sal haif redy executioun … without delay or appellation(3) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2197.
Eneas, … that maid delay At Troy c1420 Wynt. v. 2390.
Lawrens than off dayis thre Askyd delay Ib. 2395.
The delay thare-fore wes grawntyd 1428 Liber Melros 520.
The quhilkis assis made altercations & delays dyuers dayes 1456 Hay I. 238/2.
As gif … he wald nocht pay, bot geve him delayis and oursettis a1500 Seven S. 507.
Quhen that scho hard of that delay Scho grat 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 19.
Quharto suld I mak langar delay 1539 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 97.
The hale commissaris of burrois desyrit the copie of the articlis, and delay to schew the samyn … to thair communitie a1568 Bann. Bann. MS. 234 a/26.
Lat not deley be ane occasioun To place dispair 1575 Conv. Burghs I. 38.
We … in the menetyme willis ȝow to tak in gude pairt this dilay of time(4) c1400 Troy-bk. i. 355.
Iasone … Wald nocht put in delay the thing ?1438 Alex. ii. 1426.
Cowartis dois worship at delay c1475 Wall. viii. 704.
Thus thai put the battaill on delay a1500 Rauf C. 540.
Thow trowis me neuer ellis, Bot gif sum suddand let put it of delay