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.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375-1420, 1499-1513, 1589-1664
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Delf, n. Also: delff, delphe; dolf; pl. delvys. [ME. delf (Wyclif), delfe (e.m.E. delff, delph), late OE. dælf.]
1. A place dug out; a hole or pit; a grave. c 1318 Wallace-James E. Lothian Deeds 9.
Unam acram … super le delvys juxta Revedene c1420 Wynt. vi. 325.
The graffe … Thai rypyd and the body soucht; … That delff [C. delf] thai stoppyd hastyly a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1019.
The first freind, quhil he was laid in delf, He lufit ay far better than him self 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 180 (R).
He … drew me doun derne in delf [v.r. dolf] by ane dyke 1618 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 371.
Desending doun the stryp of Dargattie quhill it cum to the Blak Myre, wtherwayes Black Delffes 1664 Douglas Chart. (Reg. H.) XIII. No. 32.
Decem acris arabilis terræ et delphis, lie delphe terrarium de Eastquarter
2. A single act of digging. 1589 Laing Charters 293.
Entering him ... be thre delffis of ane spaid upon the arabill landis thairof, as use is
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"Delf n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/delf>
