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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.

Discus, -cusse, v. [ME. discusse (14th c.), L. discuss-, ppl. stem of discutere.]

1. tr. To discuss or debate (a matter). 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
[Having] sene, herd, considerit, discussit, and weyt al euidentis … & allegacions 1562-3 Winȝet II. 36/16.
We hef tane porpose nocht to discuss the errouris of eury man c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 49.
The pepill we discus That doith nocht abyde in Christ Iesus 1575 Reg. Privy C. II. 430.
To compeir befoir his Grace and Lordis … to heir and se the said mater discussit in thair presens Ib. 431.

2. To decide or settle. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 53/32.
Lat ws mak sic way that it may be plesandlie discussit [L. decerni] Ib. 109/30.
He allegit that na mater mycht be mare haistely discussit than betuix the fader and the sone 1560 Rolland Seven S. 235.
Thay ar but dout the seid of Salomon, For to discus problewm or ȝit questioun 1562-3 Winȝet I. 131/13.
The trew vnderstanding thairof … discussit and determinat be generall counselis 1596 Dalr. II. 28/17.
He latis xxx on ilk syd discusse the mater betuein thame in a singular combat Ib. 127/16.
Able aneuch … to discus al materis of difficultie

b. To explain, expound. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3800.
Gif ȝe can the caus heirof discus, First ȝe sall haue ane gude rewaird of vs Ib. 5100.
We … can discus all dreames sa cunninglie

3. To deal with by the exercise of legal diligence before proceeding against a person secondarily liable. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Attachiamentum.
In execution of decreites, … the moveabill gudes perteining to the debtour suld be first discussed 1622-6 Bisset I. 246/18.
The formare letteres of poynding quhereby the movabill guidis ar discussed of befoir 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xx … § 4.
It may be also doubted, if the thief dwell in England, or in France, whether the pursuer must first discusse him 1681 Stair Inst. i. xvii. § 5.
Cautioners cannot be pursued till the principal debitor be discust 1684 Decis. Lords F. 62.
The defender might do diligence for his relief, by discussing the heir of line