A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1513, 1571-1620
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Moris, -ys, -eis, Moryis, Morreis, n. [e.m.E. mores (1507), morys (1547), morres (1560), -is (1589), absol. use of Moris a.: cf. OF. morisque, morixe in same sense.] A morrisdance. = Moris-dauns n. Also transf., and attrib. with -bell. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. lvii. 8.
Sum singis; sum dancis; sum tellis storeis [v.r. storyis]; Sum lait at evin bringis in the moreis [v.r. moryis] 1512 Treasurer's Accounts IV. 399.
Payt to Monsure Lamote servitouris, that dansit ane moris to the King, x crounis of wecht 1513 Doug. xiii. ix. 112.
Thai fut it so that lang war to devys … Thar morysis and syk ryot, quhil neir day 1615–20 Song Title in Dauney Anc. Sc. Melodies 8.
Ane Alman moreis —transf. 1571 Satirical Poems xxix. 35.
Sum for the hure garris heid thameselff, and is not that a morreis —attrib. 1612 Halyb. 289.
Bellis called halk bellis, moreis bellis
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"Moris n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/moris_n>
