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: 1549-1600
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Decay, v. Also: dechay, -ae, deckay, dekay, deycay. [Late ME. decay, dekaye (1483), OF. decair, dekair. Cf. Dekey v.]
1. intr. To deteriorate or become impaired in any respect. 1549 Edinb. B. Rec. 146.
Quhilk land wes … sua ruinous that it wes able to decay and fall doun 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 21/27.
That is the special cause that al dominions altris, dechaeis, ande cummis to subuersione 1549 Ib. 71/13.
Quhen ane person … dechays in miserabil aduersite 1578 Glenartney MS. Docum.
Quhairthrow our said forrest wil vterly decay without heistie remede a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xxi. 82.
Lat never commoun weill decay a1570-86 Ib. xciv. 64.
Quhilk [spending] will gar mony pak decay 1597 Acts IV. 153/2.
Thair estaite … liklie with tyme altogidder to deycay c1600 Montg. Suppl. 213/33.
With dolour Damone did dekay For Mentas luif
b. To decline, to fall away. 1573 Cath. Tr. 17/10.
All heretikes hes decayet from the trew kirk
2. tr. To impair, destroy. 1567 Reg. Morton I. 18.
The erll Bothwell … intendis to utterlie rwyn and decay the guid fame and brute of our derrast soveran
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"Decay v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/decay_v>
