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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.

Dys(e, n. Also: dis(e, dyis. [ME. dyse, dys (14th c.), pl. of dy(e, var. of dee, OF. de, pl. dez. See also Dyce.]

1. Dice for playing or gambling; the game played with these. Also fig.For further illustration see Cart n.²(a) ?1438 Alex. i. 2409.
Micht we him rusche, ȝe suld sone se … at the dys Suld changit be on vther wys 1468 Peebles B. Rec. 159.
Quhat nychtbur that rasettis playaris at the dys … thar sal be tan of that man that aw the hous v s. a1500 Bk. Chess 19.
Sum gois to dyse thair lewdness for to schaw Ib. 1961.
In his richt hand sum moneye suld he haf, In his left hand thre dys to playe the laif 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 81.
In banketting, playing at cartis, and dyse 1586 Edinb. Test. XVII. 95 b.
Four gros of dys price of the gros vj s. iij d. 1596 Dalr. II. 256/27.
The fal of weiris is bot lyke a cast of the dyse Ib. 372/12.
The dyse appeirit castne for the hail realme(b) 1490 Irland Mir. 322.
As the dise quhen it is castin … can nocht fall bot on foure nukis 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 370.
To the King to play at the dis 1507 Ib. IV. 89.
To the King to play … at the hasard of dis 1533 Boece xi. vii. 419.
Nowthir in this tyme nor eftir mony ȝeris Scottis war infekkit with cartis and dise(c) 1533 Boece x. xii. 375 b.
In all partis to dyis & rutorye was gevin cure 1535 Stewart 26941.
With … Drinking, dyis, and all sic wrang abusioun, … Tha faill richt far a1568 Bann MS. 135 a/18.
Gud win at the dyis riches nocht the air a1568 Scott xxxii. 16.
Now thus, now than, so gois the game, Incertane is the dyis 1581 Edinb. Test. IX. 184 b.
Sex gros of dyis, price of the gros iij li. a1605 Birrel Diary 62.
Iames Ȝoung, player at cards and dyis

2. A small cubical piece (of iron). 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 295.
For cutting of viij^xx and ix dis of irne to the pellokis 1504 Ib. II. 433.
To Bell for dis of irne and casting of plummys for gunnis 1505 Ib. III. 136.
For iij waw j stan ij pund irn, to be pellokis and dis for the gunnis 1536 Ib. VI. 303.
Franche irne … to be dys to the falconis 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 171.
Certane small bullettis and dys of irne serving to mak bullettis for moyane and cutthrottisattrib. 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 493.
[For a vessel] vj gavillokis, ij crawis, ij pikkis, xl dyis irne weyand iiij wawis