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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Defendour, n. Also: -oure, -ur, deffendour. [ME. defendor (c 1300), -our, AF. defendour, OF. defendeour, -eor. Cf. Defendar(e.]

1. A defender, protector, supporter. 1375 Barb. xvii. 394.
The defendouris … can thame payne Till put thair fais fors agane c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1488.
Me think it spede … That … Of some defendoure ȝhe purwaye ?1438 Alex. ii. 10037.
His defendours about him war Strykand richt fast with wapnis bare 1456 Hay I. 217/23.
Fraunce has … ay bene protectour and defendour to thame Ib. II. 43/19.
A knycht, defendour of haly kirk 1497 Reg. Morton II. 248.
We salbe til him and his barnys … defendour and manteinour in thar rychtwis actiouns and querrallis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 39 (A).
He was conwoyit out of the west As a defendour stowt 1533 Boece xv. ix. 592 b.
The defendouris in athir castell stoutlie resisting, na thing be the assaleȝaris was done 1577 Hay Nobility 13.
A politique defendour of James the sext

2. A defendant in an action or demand. 14.. Acts I. 25/2.
Gif it sua fall at the challangeoure or the defendoure hafe giffyn his toll Ib. 377/2.
Many haldis opinione that in sic case the perty deffendour beand absent the pruff may [nocht] be lede withoutyn sacrament 1442 Stirlings of Keir 216.
The said Gilbert comperyt … as defendoure, and the said Wilȝame … as foloware 1456 Hay I. 270/18.
He that makis the demaund … is the assaillour, and he that ansueris is the defendour 1466 Acta Aud. 3/1.
In the … caus movit be Alexander Erskin … on the ta part again Alane lord Cathcart defendur on the tother part