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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tribune, Trybune, n. Also: tribo(w)ne, trybone. [ME and e.m.E. tribune (Trevisa), F. tribun, L. tribūnus, f. as Trib(e n.] A tribune.A high-ranking official of the Roman State, also, specif., tribunis militare, military tribunes, the commanding officers of a legion, and tribunis plebeane (tribunys of pepill). a1400 Leg. S. xxii 171.
Partone … a mychtty tribowne [L. Parthenio tribuno] … of hyme [sc. Laurence] present mad To Decius a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 22, 23, 26, 29.
Sancte George … of Capadoce … wes mad … a trybone. & thu sal wit, a tribone is he That [of] the thred-part of a cyte Or of a cunctre kepare is; & a tribone is als I-wise That trybut gadris to the king & ȝeldis hym thare-of reknyng; & he his tribune als, thu kene, To quham ansueris a thousand men 1456 Hay I 45/25.
The Romaynes … said thai wald have na mare consules and ordanyt ane othir maner of officiaris the quhilkis thai callit trybunys, the quhilk is alsmekle to say … as defendouris of the peple c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark vi 21.
Herode, in the day of his natiuitee, made a supere to the princis, and tribunes [P. tribunes; Vulg. tribunis; AV high captains], and to the gretest of Galilee 1533 Bell. Livy II 50/16.
The nyne tribunis [sc. of the people] … promulgate ane law gevand power to the pepill to cheis consullis indefferentlie of the faderis or small pepil as thai plesit 1533 Bell. Livy II 60/33.
The pepill … chesit tribunis militare with power consulare alanerlie of patricianis 1533 Bell. Livy II 100/6.
Of the hevy complaynt of the tribunis plebeane aganis the small pepil 1533 Bell. Livy II 155/25.
Thir tribunys of pepill began to mynace … the tribunys militare