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.
Quotation dates: 1562-1563, 1663-1666
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Distractioun(e, n. [e.m.E. distraction, ME. dystraccyon (c 1450), OF. distraction, L. distractio.] a. Diversion of thought. b. Mental derangement. — 1562-3 Winȝet II. 17/8.
A quiet village and monasterie in it, quhare without grete distractioun that may cum to pass — 1663 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 10.
To give weiklie to Patrik Baird … , during the tyme of his wyfes distractioune, twentie schilling Scotis 1666 Highland P. III. 35.
That … Robert Dowgles being then … in ane distractioune … did committ ane accedentall slaughter
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"Distractioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/distractioune>
