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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
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Practik, Prattik, Pratik, Prectik, Prettik, Pretik, n. Also: practick(e, -ic(t, (practit,) -yk, -ig, -i(c)q(ue, praktik, pracktique; prattick, -eik; pratyk, -ick(e, -ekce, -i(c)que, -eique; prettic(k, -ike, -yk, -icque; pretyk; parteik, partiquie. [ME (Chaucer, Trevisa, etc.) and e.m.E. practik(e, -ique, -ic(k, praktike, e.m.E. prattick (1592), pratique (1691), OF practike, -ique, med. L. practica, f. the Gk., also F. pratique, pratik (13th, 14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).The forms in -t(t)- are appar. chiefly Sc. Owing to the frequent similarity or identity in the manuscripts of the letters c and t, it must in many cases be doubtful whether ct or tt should be read: in this dictionary we have accepted the decisions in this matter of the editors of the texts.]The phrase to preve or prove a practik, practikkis is common in several of the senses.

1. a. The established usage or normal practice of a body of persons or an institution or in some form of activity.For the legal applications of this sense, see 6–9. 1456 Hay II 17/14.
Ȝong lordis barnis mycht … lere the practik of the ordre be conversacioun c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2653.
This wes the prettike of sum pylgramage 1562-3 Winȝet I 57/12.
As is the commoun practik of our aduersaris, to mak of obscuir mirknes a commentare to the cleir licht c 1588 Craig in Cath. Tr. 253/4.
Albeit souber … spreites … may … content them selfes vith the use and the prattik of the kirk 1596 Cal. Sc. P. XII 306.
[There is no cause of suspicion in this man, George Douglas, neither in his religion nor disposition to] practique 1613 in R.M. Fergusson Alexander Hume (1899) 197.
Quhairin the merchand gildrie of this burgh has ewir beine in use, prattik, and possessioun 1622-6 Bisset I 138/14.
Intimatioun of the summonis suld be maid … conforme to the dalie practik 1649 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 108.
According to the equitie and reasone, and the pratique of wther burghes 1662 Peebles B. Rec. II 54.
Practicq Ib.
Practiq 1669 Ib. 79. 1672 Sinclair Hydrostaticks 278.
(If a fault is encountered) the practique of coallery is to [etc.]

b. Established usage or custom, more generally; what commonly happens, what is usual. 1549 Compl. 139/14.
The practic of this samyn is presently, ande euer hes been in tymes by past c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 188.
For I my self be … Daylie practik … Considderis weill … Thair is mony for sum craft ar not abill, Ȝit to vther [etc.] Id. Seven S. 4148.
Kirkmen bene mair kinde [etc.] … , als weill the prettick prufis a1568 Scott iii 51.
For practik is to play, syne hald ȝour peice

c. A method of doing something or an action performed, which is or may be established as a usage. 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 86.
[The procurator] allegit the foirsaid practick to be express aganis baith law equitie and gude conscience 15.. Sinclair's Practicks (Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388 a) Title.
Certane thingis obseruit in practicque be the lords of counsall, suppois the commoun law quhyllis be in the contrarie c1590 Fowler II 141/17.
This forme of proceding, being a practic of sa long contenance 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 649.
[It is no] prattik [for a king with his help to make them obey him] 1634 Edinb. B. Rec. VII 153.
Practique 1635 Dickson Hebrews 78.
That a sinnelesse … person should suffer for sinne, was a new lesson, proper to Christ; a practique which never passed, but in Christ's person onelie a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 165.
It's not a lesse practique in soul-exercises to go … beyond … ordinances in sueing for Christ 1662–3 Wodrow Hist. (1828) I 302.
So that be this practique, several ministers … haue been put to hard suffering 1663 Peebles B. Rec. II 56.
Occasioned by ane … evill practicq called be them brothering 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X 194. 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 6 Oct.
And it was voited that the same shall be ane constant prateique heirefter 1676 Ib. 21 Feb.
Contrair … to all former customes and pratiques 1681 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 280.

2. a. The practice of a craft or skill as a profession or a means of livelihood. 1492 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 65.
That na craftismen … occupy the fredome of the same [burgh] be intrometting with thair practik or craft … bot gif [etc.] 1502–3 (c 1580) Ib. 97.
Bot sic as are in seruice haifand a sustentatioun in practik or vtherwayis 1505 (c 1580) Ib. 107.
Ony maner of vagabounds … haffand na prettik nor seruice to life vpon 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 735.
The swyft swallow, in prattick most prudent, I wate scho wald my bledyng stem 1533 Bell. Livy II 39/11.
All craft and prattik of chevelry is dissoluit Ib. 216/7. 1563 Hannay College of Justice 139.
[That he has] studit his tyme in the lawis and sensyne hes usit the practik 1594 Edinb. Surgeons 18.
[He] hes … sustenit ane sufficient tryall of chirurgie and siclyke hes done his ressonabill time in practik 1609 Acts IV 435/2.
Aduocattis laweris and all otheris living by law and practique thairof

b. One of the more or less skilled actions or activities which go to make up the practice of a craft or profession. a1500 Seven S. 628.
The child … for to ken set all his thocht The prattikis as his master wrocht 1503 Reg. Cupar A. I 259.
The said Jhone is oblist to wyrk … his craft of carweyn … and al vthir werkis craft and pretykis he can c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii 45 (Asl.).
His praktikis neuer war put to preif But sudand deid a1540 Freiris Berw. 307 (B).
For I haif mony sindry practikis seir, Beȝond the sey in Pareis did I leir, That I wald preve glaidly for ȝour saik Ib. 319. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1439.
The greitest leichis of the land … all practikis on him prouit Ib. 1451. 1603 Edinb. Surgeons 36. 1638 Moses Bundle No. 2, 10335 in Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXXI 177.
[She] sall not hyde nor conceill no poynt nor practique thairof [sc. of lace-making] from them 1646 Falkirk Baron Ct. 7 April.
To teitche … his prenteis in the haill heidis poyntis and pratiques of the said craft of saidlercraft 1649 Review Bramble's Faire Warning Preface.
Many excellent engyneers, whose witty practicks transcend the most skilfull experiments of our auncestors 1666 Edinb. B. Rec. X 10.
The skinners … [had] poynts ribbens [etc.] … being poynts and practiques of their trade peculiarlie belonging to them

3. Proficiency or skill in an art or craft gained by prolonged exercise of it; knowledge resulting from training or experience. Also plur. in the same sense.Also in, into or of weir.(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 413.
And efter that Alexander haid lerit alhale … the practik of the palmastrie 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I 82.
For [= since] the several encresments of vertue, practick and knawledge standis in gude begyning Ib. 83. 1530–1 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI 120.
That na maner of man remane therin but advocatis and sic able men to leir practik as sall pleis the chancelare 1568 Charteris Lyndesay Pref. Adhort. (S.T.S.) 404/14.
Quhais pregnant practick, and quhais ornate style [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 220/18.
This Lord Dawid Lyndsay … had small practick in the lawis and could not ansuer formelie to thair ditta c1550-c1580 Art of Music 68.
For instruction of young men and studentis desyrand to haw practik of setting of sangis c1590 Fowler II 108/30.
The practique and intelligence of a contrie bringeth a knawledge with it of the situatioun of an other 1592 Acts (1597) ii 121 b.(b) 1494 Loutfut MS. 27 a.
That he that bure that first in armes wes a man of prattik that couth spek of al materis 1513 Doug. x xii 113.
Orodes mair of prattik [Ruddim. prettik] was all owt, Bot the tother in dedis of armys mair stowt 1533 Boece 267.
Gif Hengist be his slicht and prattik had nocht … warnit iij^m fresche men … to be reddy a1585 Maitl. Q. xlvi 77. c1590 Fowler II 85/16.
King Loyes lossed Lumbardie as not having the fassons nor prattik in observing … these maximes [etc.](c) c1500 Fyve Bestes 186.
With part of pratik of nygramansy a1578 Pitsc. II 90/11.
They haue great pratick and ingyne wssand aganis ȝow be ressone [etc.](d) a1500 Henr. III 153/82 (B).
The prectik and poyntis of this pottingary 1533 Boece 42 b.
We haue nocht sic strenth nor sa grete prectik that to baith the naciouns we may in batell be compare(e) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 269.
Quha had bene thair, … Of rhetorick the prettick he micht leir a1538 Abell 11 a.
Id. III 150/16. He gart put him in first to preif his prettik with fire ondir him 1549 Compl. 14/17.
He beleuis to leyrne Annibal the prettik of the veyris 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 34. 1576 Prot. Bk. T. Auchinlek MS 1.
To be … instrucktit … in … the prettik of wreting(f) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4936.
That he wald … ingraue sum image or sic thing, Of his pretik, ingine or industrie, Subtell science or ȝit nycromansie(2) 1533 Boece 420.
The pepill quhilk almaist had na prattik of wer Ib. 153. 1535 Stewart 4876.
Thir barbouris … Quhilk hes … into weir No policie nor prattik wirth ane peir Ib. 5321.
We ken ȝour prattik that ȝe vse in weir Ib. 9462.
Thair wisdome in to weir, … Thair prattik als Ib. 4537, 21392, 59509, etc. 1549 Compl. 148/35.
Than he that hed venqueist his enemye be straikis [etc.] … , And he that hed venqueist his enemye be practik of veyr [etc.] c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 302. a1578 Pitsc. I 208/6.
The theiffis of Annerdaill come in schotting … and feirit the king sa that he had no praticke in weir(3) plur. 1533 Edinb. B. Rec. II 62.
Sen all incresment of vertew practikis and knaulege standis in gude begynning 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 319.
Medeas practicques scho had plane, That could mak auld men young agane, By Achates, the witches god

b. A display of skill on a particular occasion, a feat; also, an attempt at such a feat. a1540 Freiris Berw. 335 (M).
My hart will never be haill Bot gif ȝe preif that practik or we part Be quhat kin science nigromansy or airt 1540 Lynd. Sat. 496.
Thow art ouir perrellus ane pege sic practikkis to preif 1549 Compl. 68/4.
Than i purposit to preue ane prettic: i closit my een to see gyf [etc.] 1579 Treas. Acc. XIII 267.
To ane Englishe boy, player of practickis a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 441 (W).
Now all the practick is to passe, And not to interprise 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 10/15.
But how prooue ye now that these charmes or vnnatural practicques are vnlawfull? Ib. 17/7.
Diuerse Christian princes … some-times delight to see them [magicians] prooue some of their practicques 1600-1610 Melvill 17.
To warsell, to preve pratteiks, everie ane haiffing his matche and andagonist Ib. 487.
I saw a funambulus, a Frenchman, play strang and incredible prattiks upon stented takell a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 136.
It's no little practick in a believer, to be like the relation they stand in to Christ Id. Subtile Self 83.
To keep our selves from our iniquity … is a great matter, and a special practique

4. Practical as opposed to theoretical proficiency. 1456 Hay II 17/17.
To pas … in divers voyagis and battaillis, sa mycht thai have the pratyk with the science 1490 Irland Mir. II 84/5.
The werray sciens and practit tharof 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 30.
So Gawane Dowglas … Had … Abufe vulgare poetis prerogatyue Boith in pratick and speculatioun 1535 Stewart 55459.
Scotus subtilis … all vther did exceid In science, prattik and speculatywe 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 20/10.
Hauing learned both the theorick and practick thereof c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 8.

5. a. Skill or cunning nefariously applied; devious dealing, machination, trickery. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 179 (Harl.).
Quhat may be said of schrewit aduocatis Quhilkis … be thare practik the sentence sa resplatis Quhill that the pley oft pas the principall? c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvi 8.
Sum gevis with grugeing and with pane; Sum gevis in practik for [Bann. Dr. on prectik for; M. for practict and] supple Ib. xlix 26 (M).
Falset no feit hes nor defence Be puir practik nor piscence 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 176. c1590 J. Stewart 35/202.
For meschant mouths of this malitius mound Of proper prettick vill … Prepair sum propos

b. A clever or, chiefly, cunning or deceitful trick; a deceit; a stratagem. a1500 Henr. III 170/20 (Ch. & M.).
That practik [B. With prectik] for to pike & pill the pure a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1258.
He is sa trew in his office and lele, Is na practik agane him to appele 1513 Doug. Comm. i v 81.
And by a maner pollycy or practyk convenyt that the tayn of thaim suld tak his brother and all his complicis 1543 Douglas Corr. 153.
Seand daylie his gret practicques maide to seduce and corrupe trew faithfull subgettis … to the opinione of England 1549 Compl. 94/33.
Practik (a1568 Dunb.) Bann. MS. 94 b/13.
Bot euir the mittane is hard in mynd Of quhome the gled dois prettikis preif a1568 Scott xxxiv 47.
Prettikis 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 355.
Pretticques a1605 Montg. Flyt. 451 (T).
And throw poysoun of this poyd our practic [H. partiquies] prevaillis 1591 Douglas Corr. 187.
Aganis sic persones as hes ettellit mischewous pratekceis aganis his majesties awin estait and persoune 1594 Cal. Sc. P. XI 426.
Pratique 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 8/6.
The deuilles rudimentes … [are] all kinde of practicques, freites [etc.] 1597 Glasgow Bonnetmakers App. 86.
Quhairof the stuff wes nocht sufficient but of groff woll [etc.] … and wtheris practikis and ingynes vsit 1692 Presb. Eloq. (2 ed.) 79.
Christ … says, Zaccheus, thou'rt always proving pratticks

c. A stratagem or trick in war. Chiefly const. of or into weir or battal. 1513 Doug. xi x heading.
Heir Turnus and Camylla gan devys Practikis of weir, the Troianys to supprys Ib. 66.
Tharfor a prattik of weir devys will I Ib. xiii 120.
So lang as fatis sufferit hym in fycht To excers prettykis [Ruddim. pratikkis], iuperty or slycht 1531 Bell. Boece II 55.
The pepill … be new ingine and practik of battal, did thame gret trubill 1535 Stewart 6621.
With sic prattik ane lang tyme for to preue [etc.] Ib. 7134. 1596 Dalr. II 316/21.
Prattick

6. Established usage or customary procedure in matters of law, or an instance of this. Also plur. in same sense.Very common, esp. coupled with law or lawis, in various types of record throughout the later 16th and the 17th centuries.Also, in some contexts, passing into next sense.(1) 1552 Digest Justiciary Proc. B. 61.
Conforme to the lawis and practick of the realme 1556 Ib. 134. 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 174.
As aucht to haue bene bayth of law and practic usit of befoir in all sik actionis 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 159. 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. in Prot. Bk. M. Carruthers 11.
Conform to the lawis of this realme, use and prattick of burrowis 1565–6 Crim. Trials I i 471.
And that thair is na sic practic vsit in sic caissis, as is allegit 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 581.
To … sell the said schip incontrair the dalie practik of this realme and justice 1568 Buch. Indict. 45.
Practit 1576 Justiciary Rec. MS 5 b.
The allegeance hes na ground nowthir of the law nor practic a1578 Pitsc. I 225/19.
Be the pratick and order of Scottland the sowmondis was cassin 1578 Acts III 111/2.
Quhilk is altogidder repugnand alsweill to all law as observit prectik 1579 Reg. Privy S. VII 345/1.
Prectik 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 500.
Personis of gude jugement and experience in the lawes and practik of the criminall justice of this realme 1585–6 Ib. IV 53.
Practique 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 298.
The practic is that ony officer where he sees occasion of withstanding of his jurisdiction he may [etc.] 1587 Acts III 448/2. 1592–3 Misc. Spald. C. II 119.
According to the practic and forme vsit be the justice in criminale caussis, quha [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. heading.
The exposition of the difficil … termes … vsed in the practicque of this realme 1599 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 13.
Pratik 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 22.
Pracktique 1629 Kirkcaldy Presb. 43.
Aganes all law praticque and custome of the kirk 1633 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 388.
Pratique 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS. III xcvii.
All lawes, statuts … civill or municipall with all other ordinances and practique 1638 Elphinstone Mun. 26.
To keip the keyes … conforme to the saidis lordis daylie practik in sic caissis 1649 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 108.
Practique a1649 Drummond Wks. (1711) 200.
The former ancient practick and laws of this kingdom Ib. 205.
I … cannot be silent of the new practick in this kingdom 1653 J. Gordon Hist. I App. xlvi.
All exceptiones of law and practicke 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. (1699) i xv 2.
Albeit the manner of death is not exprest in this act, yet practick hath determined the same to be hanging 1695 Cullen Kirk S. 13 Jan.
And this is yet more cleare by former practick(2) plur. 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 622.
According to the lawes of the marches and prectikkes observit in sic caissis 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 43.
Be the inspectioun of the chepturis of the law buik and parteikis of the contrie in sic caices 1641 Inverness Rec. II 177.
Practigs 1684 Stitchill Baron Ct. 95.
Contrair to the acts of court and dayly practiqs of this kingdom

7. A recorded decision of a court cited or liable to be cited as a precedent; a ‘case’ as reported.In several of the earliest instances there is ambiguity with prec. sense. 1563–4 Reg. Privy S. V i 459/2.
Nochtwithstanding ony lawis, constitutionis, actis, consuetudis, or praktik maid or to be maid 1592 Digest Justiciary Proc. P. 23.
The said dittay … contenis na ground nor fundament of law nor prattick to infer the cryme of thift 1595–6 Crim. Trials I ii 355.
[In terms of] ane louable practique past in the lyke caise 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 42.
In consideratioun of the prectikis usit in the lyk caussis of befoir 1611 Crim. Trials III 214.
And producet tua practikis led afoir the counsell for the lyk cryme 1628 Justiciary Cases I 84.
And that the practique alledgeit meittis nocht in this caice a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 131.
The practique betuixt Syme and Coldonknowes 1641 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 303.
The clerk finding in the register some such old practique 1648 Fraser-Mackintosh Lett. Two Cent. 56.
This same week there has ane practik passed here, which will work for you 1650 Aberd. Council Lett. III 172.
Pratiks 1652 Watson's Coll. iii 102/77.
Her practicks in the innerhouse, Made strong by institution, Doth make the Pandects for to pouse The cods for contribution 1666 Glasgow Chart. II 110.
Practique 1672 M.P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 685.
The president … pretending the absolvitor was contrary to all law … and therefore would not insert it as a practique in his book he was composing of his daily observes 1683 Ib. 39.
And the case of Chrystie against Chrystie … was but a single practique, and contained a speciality too

b. In plur. as the title of the various more or less unofficial digests or compendia of such decisions, usually along with other matters. 15.. Sources and Lit. Sc. Law (St. S.) 27.
Remanent of Mr. David Ayttoune of Kingglassie his Practickis, 1540 1622-6 Bisset II 275/8. a1633 Kerse in Hope Major Pract. I xxv.
My first book of practiques … , Mr. James Balfours practiques, … My fathers practiques a 1663 Ib. xxiv.
Sir Thomas Hope … his greater practicks 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xi 22 (1699) 70.
Except on Hops assertion, in his lesser Practiques 1679 Lauder Jrnl. 287. c 1682 Rogers Social Life III 97.
[All the] Scottish practicks as also the Scottish historians 1688 Sources and Lit. Sc. Law (St. S.) 38.
[In 1688 the court ordered the printing of] the Practicks, or Decisions, of this judicatory [which] were … observed by the deceast Sir Alexander Gibson of Durie

c. ? A recorded act of court or ‘instrument’. 1546–7 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 563.
And tharfor geif the lordis removit him, protestit for ane practik

8. A precedent. 1534 Yester Wr. 153.
I traist your lordis will nocht thoill the kingis grace to make new prattik 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I 23.
Sua that induce na practik in tymes thereftir 1635 Wodrow in Hay Geneal. 94.
This preparative of myne will be introduced as a practicke 1650 Glasgow Weavers 17.
Pratique c1650 Spalding I 264.
And thairwith no noble man could be assured of his lyf, his landis and goodis, if this past as ane practique 1698 Dalrymple Decis. 4.
As to Urie's case, the practique is not marked; but there was a speciality in the conception of the faculty; for the disponer reserved [etc.]

9. The outcome of events as practical or material evidence of something. In the phr. be practik. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1083 (Ch.).
His deith be practik may be preuit eith: Thy gorrie gumis [etc.] … is euidence aneuch 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 150.
Thair beand meir socerie in that, as was euidently declairit be pruif and practik … the said vmquhill Patrick instantlie contractit ane seiknes