Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DONCE, n. Appar. a mistake for Eng. deuce, used expletively, the mischief, curse, the devil.Sc. 1705 Dialogue between a Country-Man and Landwart School-Master 3:
The Donce of all is, that we should get the Devil to our thanks for all this.
[An alternative suggestion is that donce is a back formation from Donsie, adj., Gael. donas, used sim. expletively. But donce is not otherwise found.]
