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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.

Baston, Bastoun, n. Also: bastone, bastoune (bastioun). [ME. baston, bastun (c 1300), OF. baston.] A stout staff or cudgel; a baton or truncheon. c1450-2 Howlat 616.
The rouch wodwys wyld that bastounis bare a1500 Henr. Fab. 2190.
With the bastoun weill brokin wes his heid 1494 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 68.
At ilk seriand haif a guid cutmais [sic] or baston [pr. bastero] all tyme at his belt 1513 Doug. v. ii. 55.
Quha … lyke a douchty campioun into fyght, With bustuus baston darryn stryve c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matt. xxvi. 47.
Iudas. … com, and with him a gret cumpany with suerdis and bastouns [Wycl. battis] 1636 Orkney Bp. Ct. 98 b.
The persewing of Dauid Beatoun with ane twa handit suord and bastoun 1664 Ann. Banff I. 149.
[The Council] did elect the present provost … for the yeir enseweing, quho having laid down his bastoun and removit himself, and being callit in againe acceptit of the said office

b. Coupled with staf (also fust), to render the L. per fustem (orfustum) et baculum, denoting the symbols by which the possession of land was resigned.(a) 1420 Reg. Episc. Morav. 475.
Resignand … be fust and baston in til handis of the sayde lorde … al his landis 1472 Lennox Mun. 82.
To resigne and gife our, with stafe and baston. … the said landis 1494 Dunferm. B. Rec. 50.
Jonet Cuthbert … gaf our hir franktenement wytht staf and bastone in the said balyeis hand 1516 Prestwick B. Rec. 47.
Johne Smytht … resignit be staf & bastone as maner is … twa roddis of landis 1528 Bk. Carlaverock II. 465.
To resigne, quytclame, ourgif and deliuer, be staf and baston, … all and hale the landis of Langholme 1634 Wemyss Chart. MS.
Be staff and bastone … to resigne … the landis [etc.](b) 1423 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 33.
My landis … wyth staf and bastoun tyl vpgyf and purly and symply resyng 1491 Acta Conc. 191/1.
William … resignit the saidis landis … purely and simply be staff and bastoun 1529 Chart. Crosraguel I. 89.
[He] sall puirly and symply be staf and bastoun as maner is resigne and ouirgeif the said merk land 1541 Reg. Privy S. II. 668/2.
Quhilkis eschaete gudis … is resignit be thame purelie and simpillie, be staff and bastoun, in oure soverane lordis handis 1580 Orkney & Sh. Rec. I. 197.
Comperit personale … and maid resignatioun … be staff and bastoun conforme to the ordour of resignation 1615 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 422.
And thair vpone his kneis … be staf and bastoun as vse is … ourgaif all and haill the tounes and landis of [etc.] 1642 Irvine Mun. II. 55.
Be staff and bastioun as use is 1658 Paisley B. Rec. 104.
Be staffe and bastoune as vse is

c. Attrib. with tre. 1558 Inverness B. Rec. I. 20.
The said Donald[is] wyf hed slane the said hors with bastone treys on his fyllottis