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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.

Deliver, Delyver, a. Also: deliwer, dyliuer; delyuere, -lyuir, -lywyre. [ME. delyver(e, deliver (14th c.), OF. delivre.]

1. Of a woman: Delivered (of a child). 1375 Barb. xvi. 285.
Othir women till be hir by, Quhill scho delyuer wes, he bad a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 108.
Quhen Sychen deliuer was Of a knaf-child Ib. xxxvi. 140.
Till hir cusing deliuer was c1420 Wynt. ii. 190.
At anys the modyr … Off thame twa delyvere wes Ib. 1306.
Off this bysyn best Scho wes delywyre 1492 Myll Spect. 283/9.
Als sone as this lady was deliuer of hir byrth 1513 Doug. x. xii. 42.
Heccuba … the self samyn nycht Was delyver of Paris 1533 Bell. Livy I. 89/23.
Tanaquil … held her within the palice quhil sho was deliuer of ane childe 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I. 25.
Incontinent the seik woman sould be delyuer 1593 Warrender P. II. 417.
The Queyne in the meyne was delyver of a ladie callit Elizabeth 1618 Ritchie Churches St. Baldred 172.
She was delyver of ane bairne thair c1650 Spalding I. 44.
His wyf being gryte with child … mynding thair to remane quhill scho war deliuer

2. Active, agile, nimble. 1375 Barb. iii. 737.
The kingis folk, that war Deliuer off fute, thaim gan our-hy Ib. x. 61.
Men that licht and delyuer war ?1438 Alex. ii. 1777.
He is delyuer, stalwart and smart Ib. 2933. c1475 Wall. xi. 112.
Deliuer he was, and heich our lappyt swyth 1531 Bell. Boece II. 180.
He was richt agil, and deliver of body Id. Livy I. 58/18.
This ane, deliuer and but ony wound … , come more feirsly to fecht 15.. Clar. i. 53.
Clariodus was delyver and ȝing