Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†DECREET, Decreit, Decrite, n. and v. Sc. law.

1. n. The judgment or sentence of a court of law whereby the question at issue is decided (Frf. 1722 Marriage Contract (per Fif.¹), decreit). Cf. decerniture s.v. Decern. Also (as in Eng. decree) = an authoritative decision. Arch. The form decree [′dɛkri] is now the standard usage.Sc. 1700 Rec. Conv. Burghs (1880) 309:
As also the forsaid other decreet of absolvitor obtained at the instance of the said magistrats.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet ii.:
It went . . . just like a decreet in absence.Sh. 1737 J. Mill Diary (S.H.S. 1889) 147:
The Presbytery . . . find that Mr. Walter Hugens had obtained a Decreet of ejection and removing against Robert Sinclair of Queendale.Bwk. 1757 G. Ridpath Diary (S.H.S. 1922) 119:
James Allan has somewhere got a sight of the decreet for the stipend of Hutton.Arg. 1901 N. Munro Doom Castle xxxvii.:
Doom's done wi'; it's his decreet, and I'm no' a day ower soon wi' the promise o' the Red Sodger.

Comb.: decreet arbitral(l), decrite arbitrel, an award given by arbiters; see also Arbitral(l).Sc. 1779 H. Arnot Hist. Edb. 515:
Both parties thought proper to submit their differences to the decision of the Earl of Ilay who, in A.D. 1730, pronounced the decreet-arbitral.Abd. 1731 T. Erskyne in Sc. N. and Q. (Jan. 1935) 13:
Thereafter persuaded me to subscribe a decrite Arbitrel notwithstanding I told him and all present I did not think the whole Hill of Fare worth what he was to paye.

2. v. To order, decree judicially. Ppl.adj. decreeted.Sc. 1721 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) II. 558:
A decreeted Non-juror.Sc. 1837 Tait's Mag. (Feb.) 101:
I hae had the misfortune to be decreeted by the Lords o' Session, an' decerned an' ordeened to remove frae my sma' mailin'.