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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Impediment, n. Also: impedy-, impedie-, impede-, impediament, impedment, inpediment. [ME. in-, impediment (1398), L. impedīmentum.]

1. An impediment, hindrance, obstruction, obstacle. (In immaterial applications.)(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1015.
Gregeois the cause besely … Spered of that impedyment c1420 Wynt. ix. Prol. 34.
As I stabil myne intent, Offt I fynd impediment Wyth … maladis 1498 Acta Conc. II. 187.
For the wrangus impediment, vexacione and perturbacione done be the sade Alexander … to the sadis … comunite 1511–12 Wemyss Chart. 137.
Gif the impediment or caus of diuorce now vnkend ris 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 194.
Quhen the said Dauid wes payntand the ... hous traisting na harme trubill nor impediment to haif bene done to him thairin 1562-3 Winȝet I. 138/2.
It apperis … that ȝe haif sum grete impediment quhareby ȝe ar stoppit … to keip promise 1589 Conv. Burghs I. 302.
His … seikness was impediment than thatt he maid nocht the samyn [accounts](2) plur. 14.. Burgh Laws xlviii (B).
Thar is iiii impedymentis of pondis takyng 1525 Douglas Corr. 106.
Quhilk has nocht bene sa wele performyt, throw emenent besynes and impedimentis that occurrit for the tyme a1578 Pitsc. II. 25/15.
He was stoppit be contrairious windis and vther impedementis 1587-99 Hume 94/23.
In sik sorte that all warldly cares and impedimentis were remoued

2. To mak(e (also put) impediment, to offer hindrance, obstruction, opposition, or objection.Common in formal legal and official contexts.(1) 14.. Acts I. 337/2.
Gif ony has dispersonit … the seriandis in thar office … or has mad thaim impediment quhar thru thai mycht nocht doo the law 1449 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 370.
That nan of yhou … mak distrublans impediment or lattyng … tyll … our liegis … gangand to the said mercat 1501 Chart. Coupar A. II. 102.
In the actioun … for the wraugns stopping and impediment making to thame … in the peceable broiking … of pasture 15.. Clar. v. 2078.
Quhan that nature maid impediment, And them denyit had the light of day 1570 Leslie 101.
The prior of St. Androis pretendand title to the bischoprike … appelit thairfra and made greit impediment 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 336.
Sensyne thair hes never bene ony impediment nor motioun maid for interupting … salmond fisching on the sabboth day(2) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 77/33.
[In Paradise] na trubile … is … that may put impediment to the … dilectacioune of man 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 29.
Be distructioun of ancient houssis that mycht haif put impediment to his vnressonabill ambitioun

3. Without, but, foroutin (ony) impediment, without obstruction, opposition, or objection.Chiefly in legal contexts, in precautionary formulas and the like. 1388 Slater Early Texts No. 12.
S[ch]o sal haf … leif to pas … and … hir famyl … wyth ovtyn ony impediment in thair passag 1427 Melville Chart. 245.
It salbe leyffull … the said myllin dam to make … foroutyn ony impediment or distrowblans 1456 Hay I. 238/20.
Thay … may bathe travaill in were and pes … but impedyment or questioun 1477 Exch. R. IX. 94 n.
To be pait … but ony revocacioun impediment or againcalling of ws 1535 Stewart 39383.
Syne suddantlie … Ather hes other intill armes tone And maid freindschip withont impediment 1536 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 20.
Till have enteres till his awn landis without impediment or pley c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6172.
One glorifeit body may ... Out throw that wall without impediment pas 1562-3 Winȝet I. 121/23.
The dochtiris of Salphaad to eniose but impediment thare fatheris hæretage a1578 Pitsc. I. 17/6.
Scho gat credence to vissie … hir sone … without ony impediment or stope

4. In material or concrete applications. a. Obstruction; an obstruction, obstacle.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 1070.
[Herod had] of his aynd impediment 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 245.
Thomas Watsoun is nocht meitt to be ane redare of the prayers … in respect of the impediment of his voice(2) 1513 Doug. x. vi. 41.
The plankis, hechis, and mony brokyn ayr, ..Maid to thar landing gret impediment 1533 Boece viii. viii. 267.
Quhen thai wald turne to inemyis at thare bak thay war impediment to thare feris 15.. Reg. Panmure I. xxxiv.
He did cast of his jak, and had impediment to geat it fra him(3) 1580 Dundee Chart. No. 71.
The greit quantitie of sand and vther impedimentis in the ground thairof 16.. Misc. Spald. C. II. 384.
[The lists] were ever upon plain … ground, without riggs, bills, or other impediments

b. plur. The baggage of an army. (L. impedimenta.) 1596 Dalr. II. 17/23.
The … Inglismen … with thair campis, all ingines and impediments, … swomet all to the sey