diff --git a/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 12ea0ba23..19bb87bd6 100644
--- a/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -17,6 +17,13 @@ should also be read to understand what has changed since earlier releases.
 <!-- Insert new items immediately below here ... -->
 
 
+### Document `DISP` as design-time field
+
+The DISP field can be set to a non-zero value to prevent records being changed
+from outside the IOC (this is ancient behavior), but has never been documented
+as being usable at design-time (DCT=Yes in the Record Reference tables). This
+has now been changed.
+
 ### Make `epicsInt8` signed on all architectures
 
 The `epicsInt8` and thus `DBF_CHAR` types have always been unsigned on
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCommon.dbd.pod b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCommon.dbd.pod
index 5033a362f..4b8e78d83 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCommon.dbd.pod
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCommon.dbd.pod
@@ -230,6 +230,8 @@ The B<SPVT> field is for internal use by the scanning system.
 	}
 	field(DISP,DBF_UCHAR) {
 		prompt("Disable putField")
+		promptgroup("10 - Common")
+		interest(1)
 	}
 	field(PROC,DBF_UCHAR) {
 		prompt("Force Processing")
@@ -456,9 +458,10 @@ record. If left empty, the record is placed in group C<DEFAULT>.
 
 The B<ASP> field is private for use by the access security system.
 
-The B<DISP> field controls whether puts from outside the IOC are allowed to
-modify the fields of this record at all. If the field is set to TRUE all puts
-directed to this record are ignored, except for puts to the field DISP itself.
+The B<DISP> field can be set to a non-zero value to reject puts from outside of
+the IOC (i.e. via Channel Access or PV Access) to any field of the record other
+than to the DISP field itself. Field changes and record processing can still be
+instigated from inside the IOC using DB links and the IOC scan mechanisms.
 
 The B<DTYP> field specifies the device type for the record. Most record types
 have their own set of device types which are specified in the IOC's database