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: 1399-1400, 1486-1609
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Delicat(e, a. Also: dely-, deliecat, delicatt(e, -cait. [ME. delicat (Chaucer), -ate, OF. delicat, L. dēlicātus. Cf. Deligat(e, Dilicate, -gate.] Delicate, refined, dainty, in various applications.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxviii. 400.
This Adryane wes of gret state, & ȝung, faire, and delycat a1487 Gud Wife & D. 21.
A woman … Nocht nyse, proude, na our delicat a1487 Ib. 29.
Nocht delicat in hir clething 1533 Boece xv. xvi. 438.
Leding ane wanton delicate liffe flowing in lustis and plesouris a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xciv. 56.
Sum ar sa delicat In feding feisting and bancat 1588 Cath. Tr. 214/7.
The ouer delicatte treating of oure bodyes, in eatinge, drinking, sleipinge, and cleathinge 1609 Gardyne Garden 82.
What is this bodie that They fearce so full, and dresse so delicat(2) a1500 Bernardus 68.
Thus sal be thar fude, Nocht delicate, smale drynk and metis rude a1500 Henr. Fab. 232 (A).
Quhat plesans is in festis delicate The quhilk ar gevin with a glowmand browe 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 4514.
The meitis come, richt delicate with wine a1578 Pitsc. I. 244/8.
In the said bancat was all kynd of delicat and delicious meittis and drinkis a1578 Ib. 337/8.
The stankis … full of all deliecat fisches
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"Delicat adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/delicate_adj>
