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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.

Dres, Dresse, n. [f. Dres,v. App. not current in Eng. before 1600.]

1. Dress; attire. 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 149.
Dresses to the Erle of Levenar twa sisters, … twa govnys of freis [etc.] a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 85.
Thir gay gallandis with thair dres and deray

2. Redress. 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 318.
The erll of Huntle spak wyth the lord Ruthven for gud dres of this slachtir committit laitiie 1570 Leslie 82.
He send … ane harald … with lettres requiring dres for the slauchter of Andro Bartane

3. Settling, arranging, negotiating; taking part in settling matters. 1559 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) No. 1.
As ȝe knaw we ak in thar partis for dres of our cuntre, and hes commonit with our freindis, off quhame we haif found sic dres as we haif requyrit 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 263.
In the commoning and dres of aggreance maid betuix Matho Campbell … and George Craufurd 1558-66 Knox I. 434.
A man … to enter in the dresse of suche affaris, nott so convenient, as godlie and wyise men wold requyre 1570 Leslie 56.
Hoiping … , be the dres & labouris of they godlye and noble princeis, to mitigate the … ire of his adversaries a1578 Pitsc. II. 200/16.
Be dres of the lord Lyndesay … the laird of Wauchtoun … gave it ovir Ib. 289/27.
So all the dres forsaid stud to na effectt

b. A settlement or arrangement; steps towards settling or arranging … 1568 Maxwell Mem. II. 133.
To apont with ȝow for ȝour esscheit, or wthirwayis to mak ane dres with the tresourar 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 297.
His dres is made with the regent, and he hes tane him in his protectione 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 80.
That sum dres may be teakin with the lordis for securitie and quietnes of this towne 1582 Waus Corr. I. 264.
I … beleiffis that the law will bryng yow to better poynt nor ane fryndlie dres 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI. 59.
[His Majesty] being cairfull ‘to have sum ressonabell dres and ordour tane’ [with certain debts] 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI. 517.
[That all their differences should be] tane away be a amicable and freindlie dres of freindis 1623 Crim. Trials III. 543.
To recommend to ȝour lo. the settling of that ffeid by some amicabill and freindlie dresse

4. Acting or conduct. 1567 G. Ball. 210.
Quhy war ȝe sa vnnaturall, … Tripartit and deuydit him, At ȝour dum dres? 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 756.
For daylie we may se his dress, When Monseir gaid vnto his .mess