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: 1420-1456, 1531-1650
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Extorsioun, Extortioun, n.Also: extorsyown, -syon, -sion, extorcion. [ME. extorsiun (c 1300), -cioun, -cyone, extortion, OF. extorsion, -cion, med. L. extorsio, extortio.] Extortion.(a) c1420 Wynt. v. 5026..
He excedyt all mesoure Of ill and rwyd extorsyownys [C. extorsyonys] c1420 Ib. vii. 254.
Hys leigys supprysand Be … owtrageous extorsyownys [C. extorcionys] 1456 Hay II. 24/35.
Thai geve him unworthy counsale, to do apon his subjectis extorsiouns 1531 Bell. Boece I. 159.
Traisting, behind sa mony cruell extorsionis done be ennimes, to have … ane glorius victory 1562-3 Winȝet I. 14/20.
The peple of the land vsit wikit extorsioun and rubberie 1622-6 Bisset II. 32/32.
To punische sic extorsionis done to his peopill(b) c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 96.
Quhare I may dre Pennance for my extortioun a1578 Pitsc. I. 79/34.
The earle beand sa inrichit … throw the great extortioun of the puire pepill 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 243.
Androw Sclater, water baillie, … confessit … dyvers oppressiouns and extortiouns done be him c1650 Spalding I. 155.
To sie that his soldioris micht be weill intertynneit without extortioun
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"Extorsioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/extorsioun>
