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: 1375-1615
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Debonair(e, Debonar(e, a. Also: debonayr. [ME. debonayre, -eire (Chaucer), OF. debonaire, properly the phrase de bone aire of good disposition. Cf. Deboner.] Of gracious, kindly, or courteous disposition or bearing. Applied also to looks or speech.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 284 (E).
With braid wesage, plesand and fayr, Curtais at poynt, and debonayr 1456 Hay II. 91/16.
It afferis till all grete … lordis to be ever hamely and debonair 1456 Ib. 111/1.
O hie emperour and prince debonaire a1500 Henr. Bludy S. 10.
Off all fairheid scho bur the flour, … Meik bot and debonair c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 294.
He was wondyr fayr, Nocht large of tong, weille taucht and debonayr 15.. Clariodus v. 2164.
The ladies kneillit with cheiris debonair a1568 Bannatyne MS 238 b/19.
Rycht nobill of blud, rycht wyis and debonair 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3214.
He had ane wife richt fair, … wantoun and debonair a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii. 57.
This noble nymph … , With blinkis dulce and debonair(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx. 76.
He wes ȝung & fare, wele tacht, wise & debonare a1400 Ib. xli. 309.
God, tho he debonare be, Sic tent tuk to thar cruelte c1420 Wynt. viii. 7060.
Scho wes swete, and debonare, Curtas, hamely, plesande, and fare c1420 Ib. ix. 1129. c1420 Ratis Raving 1011.
Be lel, lufand, and debonare, Honest, wnswere, & answer fare 1513 Doug. xiii. vi. 62.
Eneas … of thar cummyng the causys … With vissage full debonar dyd inqueir 1513 Ib. 208.
Wonderand … of sik wordis debonar 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8613.
He was sa … Courtes, cunning, debonar and discreit c1615 Chron. Kings 12.
Metellanus … wes ane prince werrie peciable, gratious, and debonare
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"Debonair adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/debonaire>
