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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Abbot, Abbat, n. Also: abot, awbot, aboute, aboit, aibboit; abbatt, abbate. [ME. abbot, abbat (12th c.), L. abbāt-, abbas. The o appears also in the OE. abbod beside abbad.]

1. The head of an abbey; an abbot.(a) c 1320 Liber Calchou 199.
Ad pratum quod vocatur le Abbotismedue 1389 Liber Melros 449.
The Abbot & the Conuent of Meuros a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 538.
Sancte Colme duelt thare-in thane As abot and haly mane c1420 Wynt. iv. 1686–7; etc.
Quhen scho mycht noucht get assent Off that Abbot till hyr intent. Scho defamyt that abbot hale c1450-2 Howlat 687.
Abbotis of ordouris, Prowestis and priouris 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 88.
The moné … thet wes takin fra the said Abot 1504 Ib. II. 423.
Maister Johne, the Franch medicinar, new maid Abbot of Tungland c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 23; etc.
Quhill that ane abbot him cleith in ernis pennis 1533 Boece xiv. xiii. 567.
Grete nowmer of bischoppis, awbottis and barouns 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. 205.
Baroun baillie to the abbot of Halyrudhous 1568 Haddington Corr. 270.
Maister Johne Hay, quhome we promoveit … to ane abot and pryour 1593 Mar & Kellie MSS. 39.
Maister George Car, sone to the unquhyll Aibboit of Nebottill 1657 Balfour Ann. I. 10.
Herbert, the 3d Aboute of Selkirk, was 1 abbot of Calcow(b) 1543–4 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 60.
Donald Campbell abbat of Cwper 1562-3 Winȝet II. 82/1.
Quhidder he wes a priest … or an Abbate … , he is naway to be reprocheit 1581 Acts III. 276/1.
Makkand him vndowtit abbat … of the abbay of Newbottill 1596 Dalr. I. 266/21.
The Scotis Clostiris, in quhilkes … Scotis, ȝe in this age, haue beine Abbatis 1622-6 Bisset I. 91/16.
Willing to extend his … bontiefulness towardis bischopis, abbattis, and priouris 1633 Acts V. 72/1.
Abbattes of the saids abbacies

2. Abbot of unresoun or unrest, a mock personage playing the leading part in popular revels. (See Scott's Abbot, ch. xiv, and note.) 1472 Peebles Chart. 167.
The quhilk day … was … hys fredom gewyn to John Morchowson abbot of vnrest in that tym 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 270.
To Gilberte Brade … for spilling of his hous in Striuiliing be the Abbot of Vnresoun; x li. 1497 Ib. 327.
Gevin to the Abbot of Vnresone, for his reward, at the Kingis command, v lib. viij s. 1537 Soc. Ant. II. 399.
George Rychartson sall pa to the tressaurer . . 40 s. . . becaus he would not be Abbot of Unresson 1539 Ib.
The counsall to convene to the towbuyth ... for chesing of the Abbot of Unressoun 1555 Acts II. 500/1.
It is statute … that in all tymes cumming na maner of persoun be chosin Robert Hude nor Lytill Johne, Abbot of vnressoun, Quenis of Maij nor vtherwyse 1558-66 Knox I. 40.
The same Frear maid ane uther sermoun of the Abbote Unreassone, unto whome … he compared the prelattis of that age

3. Attrib. with play. 1600 Elgin Rec. II. 81.
Seducing utheris his complices and collegis to cum to seik licence to haif ane Abbot play quhairthroch ane tumult micht aryse