A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1550
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Cheson(e, -oun, n. Also: chesoyn, chesowne, chess-, chasoun. [ME. cheson, -oun, -un (c 1300), reduced form of Enchesoun.]
1. Occasion, cause, reason. a1400 Legends of the Saints xii. 441.
In ane rape, for-owte chesone, Thai harlyt hyme to presone a1400 Ib. xl. 1156.
To God I cont a fa That but chesone a man wald sla 14.. Acts I. 111/2.
In the mut of dett sal be nemmyt the … quantite of the dett and the cheson quhar for it wes awand
2. Cause or ground of complaint; objection, exception, demur. c1420 Wynt. V. 480.
He thoucht … he mycht wyth-owt chesowne That trewage to the Romanys pay, That thai had tane before his day a1500 Prestis of Peblis 347.
Eftirward sa did this king but chessoun; Of him mycht na man plenȝe on ressoun 1535 Stewart 42166.
The lordis … maid him tutour with thair haill consent, Into that tyme without debait or chasoun 1535 Ib. 58147.
And so he did, withoutin ony chesoun, … Without pley or ony moir ganestand c1550 Rolland Court of Venus IV. 316.
All hir sawis thay ratifeit but chessoun
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"Cheson n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/chesone>
