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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Occupy, v. Also: occupye, -i(e, -é, -ay, ocupé, occuppie. [ME. (Hampole) and e.m.E. occupy(e, -ie, ocupy(e, irreg. f. OF. occuper, L. occupāre, to seize. Cf. also Occup(e v.]

1. tr. To take or hold possession of (a territory, town, etc.) by conquest or by settlement; to seize or hold by invasion or colonisation.Passing into senses 5 and 6. 1375 Barb. i. 111.
Ȝe mycht se he suld occupy Throw slycht that he ne mycht throw maistri Ib. iv. 596 (E).
The land wes then … All occupyit with Inglis men Ib. i. 98, ix. 675. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2318.
He was certefyed That fol his kynryk occupyed c1420 Wynt. ii. 733.
It wes thare wylle … For to pas that ile wytht-in, And it be conquest to thame wyn And wytht thare stuffe it occupy For thame and tharis herytabilly Ib. 1681.
All off the gret towne off Troy That Ytaly all occupyid Ib. vi. 2475.
Fra he gat wyttyng … That Harald occupyid the land Ib. ii. 851; etc. 1456 Hay I. 230/34. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 248/24. 1513 Doug. ii. xi. 129.
It was with Grekis beset and hail ourturnyt Alhail the hows with thame sa occupyit Ib. vii. iv. 145.
Eneas … quhais ofspring By thar power suld ioys and occupy The haill warld vndre thar senȝeory Ib. viii. x. 14.
Occupeyt Ib. x. ii. 44. 1533 Bell. Livy II. 198/27.
The Ethruschis … occupijt all the landis … with als mony sindry colonyes as thare was sindri clannys of thare lynnage 1549 Compl. 7/11.
Fureous Mars that hes violently ocupeit the domicillis of tranquil pace 1596 Dalr. II. 151/31. Ib. I. 146/10.
The bischop, sa iniuret in a furie cumis til Ed^r., occupies the toune

b. To gain or have (authority or rule) by conquest or usurpation. 1375 Barb. i. 152.
How that he all the senȝhowry Throw his gret mycht suld occupy 1456 Hay I. 47/36.
Thai sett thame to occupy the senȝeoury of thaim be force of armes Ib. 107/9.
The peple of Rome … nochtwithstanding that thai occupy the jurisdiccioun of the empire Ib. 213/33.
Na that the King of Fraunce occupyis wrangwisly the privilegis imperialis

c. To usurp the possession of, to appropriate wrongfully to one's use or enjoy wrongfully or by usurpation. 1456 Hay I. 111/1.
Or that he occupyit wrangwisly the Kirk gude 1474 Prestwick B. Rec. 23.
He had occupiit wrangwisli … his girdile and a bakstwle c1475 Wall. vi. 912.
Our litill mendis we haiff Syne off oure rycht ȝe occupy the laiff ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 93.
Ane Dane in ilk ane hous was knawin … That occupiit bayth gude and wyff 1533 Boece x. iv. 353 b.
Inemyis on the nycht had occupyit all thare cariage and pray 1596 Dalr. II. 462/26. Ib. 443/26.
Quhen the Catholickis war in sik penuritie … the nobilitie occupieng thair gudes

2. To enter into or be in possession of (land, a building, a fishing, etc.) as its regular user; to farm (land); to reside in or make other regular use of (a building or part of one).Passing into prec. c.(1) 1423 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 37.
Full power, fredome & lecence to labor, teill, manur & occupy … the landis of West Lochtrysk 1451 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I. 162.
Jhone … wrangusly occupeis … certane landis 1454 Ib. 127.
To ces that thai … lat nocht … the said inhabitantis to jois, laubur and occupy thar said commoune 1473 Acta Aud. 29/1. 1480 Acta Conc. I. 70/1.
The landis … clamyt & occupijt be the saidis Margret & William be reson of cofe [etc.] 1485 Ib. *113/2.
He sal pay to hir for the male of a pece of feild land that he occupiis of hirris in the ȝer half a merk 1489 Ib. 101/1. 1496 Ib. II. 8. 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 208/2.
Gif ony of thaim occupiis and usurpis ony part of the Kingis propir lands 1511 Ib. 342/2.
With power to occupy the said landis with his aun gudis or to set thaim to tenentis 1516–7 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 40.
And incontinent to discharge thaim occupyis the commoun 1520 Ib. (ed.) 57.
He sait ouer the terme and occupyit the ground 1559 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 315. 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 5.
The said Jonet … hes continwallie occupiit the said bakland sensyne lyk as yit 1571 Elgin Rec. I. 127. 1591 Aboyne Rec. 169. 1614 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 109. 1632 Cullen B. Rec. 6 June.
Ane croft of land callit Sinclars croft occupeit be Alexander Reid 1633 Inverness Rec. II. 170.
[Certain neighbours] hes riwin … occupiet and schoirne greit pairtis … of the said commun Carse 1644 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 24.
Occupied(2) 1473 Peebles B. Rec. I. 170.
Quhat hous that he byggis he sall joys and occupy it quhill he lewys 1498–9 Acta Conc. II. 324.
Ordanis the sade Wilyeam Fery to remane in his aune duelling buth that he now occupyis 1509 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 124.
To tak of … euery flescheour occupeand his stok on the hie gaitt … four pennies ilk quarter 1533 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 171 (18 June).
Villiem Ker dischairgit Jhone Howatsone to occupy his tenment, for I varne ȝow and ȝe occupy it I sal gar ȝow pay to me thre lib. ȝeirlie 1548 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 260.
He hes vsit and occupeit my inland and warkhouse with my wark and lummes 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 193.
Male … of the hous now occupiit be the prouest 1566 Prot. Bk. James Foulis 5.
The eistmest laich buith occupiit be Cuthbert Murray 1622 Misc. Bann. C. II. 247.
Occupyit 1638 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 566.
Occupay(3) 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 23/2.
All and hale oure fisching of the water of Esk … to be occupyit … be the said Lord Dacre, his servandis, factouris and intromittouris 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 334.
That salmond fischengis hes bene labouret fischeit and occupyit on the sabboth day(4) 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 30.
The saidis craftismen to vse, occupy and aduorny the said ile … siclyk as vtheris craftismen occupiis within the said college kirk

b. intr. To reside, stay, lodge. 1503–4 Treas. Acc. II. 418.
For mail quhair the King occupiit in his innys … lvj s.

3. To possess or enjoy (an office or a right or privilege). 1442–3 Coldingham Priory 145.
[To] occupy and have the said office of bailyery 1456 Hay I. 209/17.
Na that man may say that he occupyis ony fredome tharof 1482 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 41.
That na craftismen … within this toun occupy the … fredome thairof … bot gif thai be fre burgessis 1515 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 94. 1545 Glasgow Chart. II. 509.
Wyth full power … to occupy, mannyr and jois the said kyndnes [etc.] … of the said land 1546 Stirling Archæol. Soc. (1905–6) 57.
Elspet Tailȝor, the relict of Alexander Tailȝor, to occupy the fredome of that craft 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 68.
That ane penaltie … be maid aganis all thame that occupeis vniustlie, … the libertie … foirsaid

4. To make use of, turn to use, avail oneself of; also, to enjoy the use or possession of (a thing). 14.. Acts I. 385/2.
That is possessit of na man fra it be tane of resoune natural is grauntit to thaim that it occupiis 1434–5 Chart. Coupar A. II. 34.
The forsaid lande to be occupyit in pasturyng 1456 Liber Aberbr. II. 89.
The said commoun … sal nocht be … occupyit with casting off petis, faile na dwuate 1482 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 41.
Merchantis … and regratouris of fische butter … and all vther thingis sauld and occupyit within this burgh 1513 Doug. viii. iii. 170.
He me gaue … Twa goldyn bridillis … Quhilk now my son occupyis, ȝong Pallas Ib. vi. 12.
Na couth thai eir the ground, nor occupy The plewis 1534 Linlithgow B. Ct. 4 May.
For the mendis of ane caldron the quhilk the said Kathryne occupyit and laborit 1540 Ayr Chart. 16.
The said charter … micht nocht be esalie turst usit nor occupijt be thame in siclik besynes as thai had ado thairwith 1576 Edinb. Test. V. 52.
Ane girtling bait occupiit be Wm. Lyell 1581 Burne in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 171/31.
Ane change … from occupeing beiddis, To brydling thair [sc. women's] heiddis 1597 St. A. Baxter Bks. 34 n. 1.
That na … owner of the saids backhousses suffer the samin to be occupyit vpon the said saboth day heerafter

5. To inhabit (a territory, region, etc.). c1420 Wynt. i. 503.
The foure kynrykys pryncypalle Be thare successyowne lynealle Wes occupyid c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 35.
Thaim that sal occupye the warld c1475 Wall. iii. 10, ix. 431. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 193/5.
And sa remanis the ile allanerlie occupijt with ws Scottis in Scotland and Normandis in Yngland to this day 1513 Doug. viii. vi. 5.
Thir woddis … Sum tyme inhabyt war and occupyit With nymphis and fawnys apon euery syde 1533 Boece ii. i. 57.
King Fergus … informit ws sa weill that in quiet and eis we may occupie this cuntre 1596 Dalr. I. 82/3.

6. To be situated in, be in; to take up space in; to fill. c1420 Wynt. i. 530.
The erd swa delt in twa partys Asy the tane half occupyis 1456 Acts II. 47/1.
Of gret stallis of merchandice the quhilkis cumis on horsis bakkis or coueryt cramys that occupyis the faris 1495 Liber Aberbr. II. 289.
The south syd of Balnamonismyr … occupeit be pettis castin be Symon Banerman 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 90.
The feildis all ar occupijt … By Idomeneus the Kyng Ib. v. iii. 7. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Pvrprestvre.
Quhen ony … occupies the Kingis calsay or commoun gaite 1622-6 Bisset I. 299/26.
His serjand … to … tak the guidis that occupyis the ground

b. Of non-material things: To pervade, fill. 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 18.
Cruel womenting occupyit euery steid 1596 Dalr. I. 110/26.
Bot (allace) now wod hæresie occupies al baith in lenth and bredthe

c. Of a disease: To take possession of, grip, or to pervade (the victim). 1543 Reg. Morton II. 289.
The said erle being … aigit occupyit and detenit with diverse maledeis in his persoun Ib. 290, 292. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 2.
A burning corruptit fever that occupyit hir in sa heigh degre

7. a. To take up (space). 14.. Acts I. 334/2.
That … thai occupy mar space betwen the hup and the myln stan … than law wald a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 129/5.
The Lordes body vas and is at al tymes in the sacrament … impassible, occupeand na place therin Ib. 128/7.

b. To take up, extend over, fill (a particular period of time). c1420 Wynt. iv. 1133 (C).
And sa thir ten [sc. kings] sulde occupy … Twelf hundyr wyntyr and weil ma

c. To take up, use up, spend (time). c1420 Wynt. ii. 142.
To tell yhow thaire-off the story Walde do as nowe bot occupy Tyme a1500 K. Hart 21.
Thai kest thair tyme to occupy In welthis for to wyne 1513 Doug. Direct. 49.
Thus haue I not my tyme swa occupy [sic] That all suld hald my laubour onthryfty 1535 Stewart 42414.
My pen wald tyre … To occupie so lang ane tyme and space 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 279. c1550 Id. Meldrum 37.
The man Quhais ȝouth did occupie in lufe Full plesantlie 1563 Ferg. Answer 37.
In that language that they all might understand they nether preach nor exhort but occupyeth the tyme with speaking to the wall

8. a. To replace another in, to take over from another (a position or place). c1420 Ratis R. 117.
Sum wyce wyll occupy that place And led thé fray the way of grace 1456 Hay I. 240/3.
Sen he occupyis in werk the tothir oxis place, quhy war it nocht resoun he suld joys his privilege 1514 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 147.
Quhane ony persoun cumis nocht till keip his roume it sall be lesome to the persoun that sould be nixt to occupy that place for that tyme 1562-3 Winȝet I. 84/19.
Our Saluiour quhois place the lauchful minister occupiis a1578 Pitsc. I. 150/7. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 16.
Androw Earle of Erroll … gives commission to Francis his sone … to occuppie his place and voitt for him in parliament

b. To take the place of, replace. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 672 (C).
For it is nought new certanly Last joye that sorow occupye

9. To engage, employ, busy (a person, his mind, etc.), absol. and const. in, with, for (something). Also reflex.(1) 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
The Kyng of Scotland is occupyit in sik places qwhar it was noght eseful till the Kyngis messages of Ingland to com til his presence 1416 Liber Melros II. 539.
Occupiet othir wais c1420 Wynt. viii. 2143.
For he wes occupyid at hame, He send Schyr Hw … In Scotland c1450-2 Howlat 580.
The barris of best gold, thocht I thaim hale knewe, It suld ws occupy all day a1500 Lanc. 2005.
My drem … The wich solonghaith occupeid my mynd How that I shal no maner sucour fynd 1513 Doug. vi. i. 1.
Qwil on this wys ilk man occupyit was 1582 Declar. Causis 8/9.
Sum takinnis & presentis was … send … to hald his hienes occupyit c1590 Fowler II. 110/3.
Never to be ydile occupyed(2) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 41.
Til occupy and waist his wyt that God has gevyne hyme in syk wanyte 1490 Irland Mir. MS. 353.
Thai that occupiis a king ore prince in licht & wane thingis a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1429.
Herfor our saull … In wardlie werkis we may wele occupye c1460 Regim. Princ. 105 (M).
Occupiit 1533 Boece xv. iii. 578.
In singyn [etc.] … all the armye was occupijt 1576 Inverness Rec. I. ci.
[Except such as were] occupeit in out labouris a1578 Pitsc. I. 195/16.
Occupyeit 1596 Dalr. I. 15/21.
Thair oft may be sene hail lx of fisher botes occupiet in fisheng 1598 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 52. 1600 Elgin Rec. II. 76.
George Kay and Thomas Robertsone … for … not being occupeit in handiwork to pay 2 s.refl. 1456 Hay II. 19/17. Ib. 144/7.
Thir knychtis that thus occupyis thame in the defens of his rychtis c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 131. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 42/16. 1492 Myll Spect. 272/15.
He had occupijt him self in the study of naturall philosophy ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 87.
O Lord Jesu Crist … Grant me to … occupy me in thy loving 1551 Hamilton Cat. 69.(3) ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 16.
Sa that my mynde be nocht occupyit with na kind of thochtis that may [etc.] a1500 Lanc. 75.
Of thocht my gost with torment occupy, That I became in to one exasy 1549 Compl. 9/19.
In sa far as thai persaue me nocht ocupeit vitht mecanyc byssynes 1568 Haddington Corr. 270.
Traitouris, quhais lwnatick branes ar continewalie occupeit with this thair poysoun 1593 Acts IV. 18/1.
Tumultis … hes moved the privie counsaill oftymes to be occupiet with that quhilk propirlie pertenit to the jugement … of the lordis of counsaill and sessioun(4) 1570 Leslie 234.
The governour was so bissie occupeit for defence of the invasione … that [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 99/23.
Quhill the Earle of Huntlie was occupyit in this maner for the libertie of this realme

b. To engage (an enemy) with repeated attacks, to assail repeatedly. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 189/22.
We … wore apon the Romanis and occupiit thaim sa that we gart thaim big twa wallis fra the est se to the west se

10. To engage in, practise, ply (a trade). a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1308.
Ȝit with mair cure that craft we occupye … Than to evaide eternale dampnacoun 1498 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 67.
That nane of thame [sc. craftsmen] occupy merchandice and thar craft togidder sa that, gif thai occupy the merchandice, that thai leif thar craft 1500 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 86. 1517 (c 1580) Ib. 170. 1517 Edinb. Hammermen 94 b.
The laif is supercedit quhill he occupy the craft 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5533.
All his ingine and wit he did apply To leir phisick and the same occupy 1562 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 126.
Divers utheris sciences lyck as the samyn langtyme bipast has been daylie occupeit and exerceit 1567 Peebles B. Rec. I. 306. 1571 Canongate Ct. Bk. 337. 1641 Peebles B. Rec. I. 105.
That na … persounes … wha ar not burgessis [etc.] … preswme to vsurpe exerce and occupie … mercatis or vse of merchandice

11. intr. To engage in work or business, ply one's trade, work. 1543 Edinb. Hammermen 163.
Ressaiuet fra the tynkeris … that occupiis quhillis apone the oulkdais 1587 Perth Kirk S. 260.
The multerers have been … sundry times charged to compear … for permitting their servants to occupy on the sabbath-day 1588 Edinb. Surgeons 9.
That inquisition be taken of all vnfremen vsurpand thair privilege to be gevin in to the officiar be thair names, in quhat poyntis thay occupy Urquhart Rabelais i. vii.
The seamsters (when the point of their needles was broken) began to work and occupie with the tail

12. ? To earn one's living, or ? to have one's abode, dwell. 1549 Compl. 62/10.
The vulgaris callis it nortuest … it is verray noisum til al them that occupeis baytht be see and land