Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Duty, Duety, n. Also: duyté, dwité, -ittie; dueté, -tie, dwetté; diueté; dwty, dutie. [ME. dueté, duyté, dutee, etc., AF. dueté, duité. Cf. Dewité, Dewty, and Dowité.]

1. A duty or obligation. 1456 Hay II. 128/19.
All bestis and foulis … ȝeldis agayn thair dueteis of nature to mankynde 1564 St. A. Baxter Bks. ii.
The quhilk day Robert Arthur … hes receuit his duety to toun and craft 1596 Dalr. II. 218/11.
The dutie quhilk tha awe the king 1611-57 Mure Dido i. 842.
Small pledges of these duetyes to her due

2. An obligatory service or payment. 1446 Reg. Cupar A. I. 126.
Doand to vs al duyte and servys as … customyt is of our lordschip to do 1473 Ib. 189.
Payand ȝerly to ws his male, al seruice and dwiteis … as he deid befor 1545 Reg. Paisley App. 6.
We … sall caus the saidis Abbot … to be … thankfully payit of all maner of … proffittis, diueteis, eschetis [etc.] 1545 Reg. Privy C. I. 18.
In his comptis of his taxt of his said dwty 1618 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
To be comptable … for payment to him of all fies and dueties