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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Extent, n. Also: exstent. [ME. (c 1330) and AF. extente, med. L. extenta. Cf. Astent, Estent, and Stent n.]

1. The part or amount assigned to one. c1420 Wynt. v. 2452.
Ilk prest He ordanyd to … hald hym off his part content, Usurpand noucht oure his extent

2. The valuation or assessment of land; the value as fixed by assessment.‘Extent is the name given to the ancient census or general valuation put upon all the lands in Scotland, for the purpose of regulating the proportion of public subsidies or taxes exigible from them, as well as for ascertaining the amount of the casualties due to the superior’ (Bell).Freq. with the adj. auld (L. antiqua extenta): for the distinction between auld and new see Skene s.v. 1424 Acts II. 4/2.
That all schireffs be sworne to the king or his deputis that thai sall lelely and treuly ger this extent be fullfillit of all the landis and gudis. And that the extentouris salbe sworn … that thai sall do thar full power to the said extent 1496 Lennox Mun. 160.
Fowr merkis worth land of auld exstent, … lyand in the paroschin of Inchenan 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 243/2.
To sel … xx merkis worth ofland of ald extent 1559 Ib. MS. XXX. 19 b.
The gift of the nonentres … proffittis and dewiteis of all and haill the aucht mark land of auld extent 1584 Acts James VI (1597) 68.
The deutie to the quhilkis the saidis landes ar retoured, or may be justly retoured, for the new extent. Quhilk new extent his hienes … declaris to be the iust availe of the saidis landes 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Extent.
Extent of landes signifies the rentes, profites & issues of the samin, quhairof there is twa kindes, The auld extent, and the new extent Ib.
In time of weire there is na ordinar or certaine extent of landes prescrived be ony law

3. A levy, contribution, or tax imposed by assessment. 1483 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 47.
Thair complaint buir … that thay war rycht havely hurt … in the payment of ȝeldis and extentis quhilkis thay war compellit to do be use 1514 Ib. 146.
That ane extent be gatherit of the haill communitie extending to the sowme of v^c li. 1518 Ib. 183.
The … maister counsalouris … sall haif power to imput lift and rais taxtis and extentis … apon the merchandis 1543 Reg. Privy S. III. 5/2.
We haif … dischargeit … the said Alexander … of all extentis or taxtis paying 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 416.
For payment of the quhilk sowme the saidis Provest and Baillies hes devysit ane extent to be gadderit of the saidis burgessis 1589–90 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 15.
[The council] fynds that the sowmes that he is extented in the twa last extents ar as large as he may 1634 Stirling B. Rec. I. 172.
James, Marquise of Hamyltoun, collectour generall of the extentis, ordinar & extraordinare 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 204.
The … yeirlie rent dew and payable to ws … and wtheris lyable in extentis within oure said burghe

4. Attrib. with roll. 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 25.
The baillies and counsale … ordane the clerk to produce before thame incontinent the extent rollis 1587 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 61.
Quha war sworne … to stent the same on the merchandis, … and to mak ane extent roll thairupone 1601 Conv. Burghs II. 100.
The brugh of Sanquhar is … as ȝit nocht put in the extent roll