† dizzard Obs. or arch.
(ˈdɪzəd)
Forms: 6 disarde, dysarde, diserde, dissarde, dyzerde, dyzert, 6–7 dizard(e, dissard(e, 6–8 (9 arch.) disard, dizzard.
[First found c 1520. Perh. a modification of earlier disour, by assimilation to words in -ard. See the intermediate forms in -er, -are, -ar in sense 1. In later use, esp. in sense 2, app. associated with dizzy.]
1. = disour; a jester, a ‘fool’.
| [1502 Priv. Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830) 53 A disare that played the Sheppert before the Quene. 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 119 In a cote thou can play well the dyser. Ye, but thou can play the fole without a vyser. 1530 Palsgr. 214/1 Dissar a scoffer, saigefol.] |
| a 1529 Skelton Image Ipocr. 364 To goe gaye With wonderful aray As dysardes in a play. 1540–1 Elyot Image Gov. (1556) 8 b, To minstrels, players of enterludes, and disardes. 1576 Newton Lemnie's Complex. (1633) 210 Such commonly are Dizards, Gesturers, Stage-players, [etc.]. 1578 N. Baxter Calvin on Jonah Ep. ded. 3 In the Iestes of Skoggen the King's dizzard. 1618 Crt. & Times Jas. I (1849) II. 90 Archy, the Dizzard. |
2. A foolish fellow, idiot, blockhead.
| 1547 Homilies i. Contention ii. (1859) 138 Shall I be such an idiot and diserde to suffre euery man to speake vpon me what thei list. 1607 T. Walkington Opt. Glass iii. 17 Who seeing his deformed countenance called him an idiot and a dissard. 1791–1823 D'Israeli Cur. Lit., Acajou & Zir, One may be as great a dizzard in resolving a problem as in restoring a reading. 1886 M. K. Macmillan Dagonet the Jester ii. 100 They flattered the wantonness of young lords and old wealthy disards. |
| attrib. 1546 Bale Eng. Votaries i. (1550) 63 b, The craftye knave lyed falselye, and so mocked hys kynge, to make of hym a very dysarde fole. 1566 Drant Horace Sat. iii. B iv b, We call him goose, and disarde doulte. |