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douce

[doos]
adjective Scot. and North England.
  1. sedate; modest; quiet.
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Origin of douce

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French (feminine) < Latin dulcis sweet; see dulcet
Related formsdouce·ly, adverbdouce·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for douce

Historical Examples

  • According to Douce, skimmington is derived from skimming-ladle, used in the ceremony.

    Bygone Punishments

    William Andrews

  • Nae muck le o' that, but a douce, good-humored lassie for a' that.

  • I hae studied her weel, and she's a thrifty, douce, clever lassie.

    Auld Licht Idylls

    J. M. Barrie

  • But the canny wife of the Provost, douce man, plucked him by the sleeve.

  • Mr. Douce says this is intended as a ridicule upon heraldry.

    Hamlet

    William Shakespeare

British Dictionary definitions for douce

douce

adjective
  1. Scot and Northern English dialect quiet; sober; sedate
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Derived Formsdoucely, adverb

Word Origin

C14: from Old French, feminine of dous, from Latin dulcis sweet
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012