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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DISCOMFISH, v. To vanquish, to overcome. Gen. in pa.p. discomfish'd, discomfisht, overcome, defeated (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2, discomfisht). See also Scomfish. [dɪs′kʌmfɪʃ]Hdg. 1885 J. Lumsden Rhymes and Sk. 40:
But a' this great fell airt accomplish'd Was e'en made little or discomfish'd.
Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 73:
He taks him a fung i' the ribs and a stot on the nose, and discomfishes him in ae ack.

Hence discomfishment, destruction, disaster.Edb. 1916 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's xi. 3:
But the crookit gangin o' the ill-daein 'll whummle them to discomfishment.

[O.Sc. has discumfis, as above, from 1489, discomfist, from 1530; O.Fr. desconfis-, pres. stem of desconfire, to defeat, vanquish.]

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"Discomfish v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/discomfish>

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