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.

Diton, n. Also: dyt-, ditone, ditoun, ditton; deton, deattone, dettoun. [F. dicton (in 16th cent. pronounced diton).] A phrase or sentence; a motto.(a) 1572 Sat. P. xxx. 216*.
Finis with the dytone. Quod Sempill. The Lord to delyuer [etc.] 1600 Acts IV. 257/1.
The saidis peiceis [of coin] haueand … ane litle rois at the begynning of the ditone 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xii. 17.
Inscryuing their tombes with a trigram of D.M.S., a diton that meaned, Diis manibus sacrum 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII. 315.
Quhais names, airmes, and ditoun ar … ingraved upoun ane litle dure of the said ile 1609 Gardyne Garden 25.
As thou shalt see all those lamenting layes And duleful ditons cunninglie declare 1626 Garden Worthies 176.
His lordly patents … with th' immargend diton drawen wp there 1639 Baillie I. 212.
Everie companie had … a brave new colour stamped with the Scottish Armes, and this ditton, For Christ's Croun and Covenant, in golden letters Guild Old Roman Cath. (1649) Ep. Ded. 9 (Jam. (1825) s.v. Diton).
As your arms are the ever-green holline leaues, with a blowing horn, and this diton, Virescit vulnere virtus(b) c1615 Chron. Kings 133.
This wes the deattone in thair baner 16.. Hist. Kennedy 68.
Beirand the Banner of Rewendge quhairin was payntitt his portratour, … and this deattone writtine betuix his handis 1623 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 282.
The dettoun besyd the said window cullorit with oyle culloris 1640 Cunningham Diary 18.
Standing upon the gardes of the sword is the Kings owne proper deton