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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Heritabil(l, Heretabil(l, adj. Also: heritable, -abyll, herytabill, -abyl(l, heretabile, (-ebile), -able, -abell, herret-, hearet-, hæretable, heiratable. [F. héritable (1206), e.m.E. heritable (1523). In Sc., common from the 14th c.; in Eng. apparently uncommon before c 1660. Cf. also Eritabill.]

1. Capable of being inherited, subject to inheritance, passing by inheritance to an heir-at-law; held by right of inheritance. c1450-2 Howlat 563.
The lyon lansand on loft … He gaif it to the Dowglas, heretable ay 1562-3 Winȝet I. 121/20.
Gif ȝe affirm that a woman may nocht succeid to hir fatheris hæretable landis, Moyses pronunceis … in ȝour contrare 1587 Acts III. 475/2.
[Neither] the richt of blood nor ȝit ony heretable title fallis vnder prescriptione 1600 Ib. IV. 244.
The onlie and indoubtit heretable richt … of the beiring of all his hienes banneris, [etc.] 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 654.
They … have acquyrit surreptitiously … heretable power to use and exerce gilderie courtis 1654 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 142.
Courts of justiciarie, regalitie, … heretabill schireffschip, heretabill admeralitie 1682 Lauder's Observes App. iv. 310.
The court ... declares his office, his hail estat, heiratable and moveable, ... to be echeated

2. Pertaining to, or connected with, heritable property.(a) 1392 Lennox Mun. 45.
The sayde Erill haffis gyffyn fre and heritable sesying and possessioune c1420 Wynt. iv. 1251.
Alysandyr … Be herytabill successiowne Begouth to regne in Macydowne 1428–9 Cal. Chart. Suppl. 7th Feb.
I … sall … ger the said Jonate … haf herytabill state and possession of all thir fornamyte landis 1509 Douglas Chart. 192.
Be heritabill schartir and sesinge of al his landis 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV. 611.
Johnne Steill, quha wes the annalier of the heritable richt(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 92.
He gaf of heretable rycht To godis seruice al that ton Into fre possessione c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2631.
Of this kynryke … I … giffis hime heire state heretabile 1452 Maxwell Mem. I. 170.
To the saide Johnne … heretabil state and possession in the landis of Netherpollok 1536 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 78.
For heretable infeftment to be maid to the said tovn and thair successouris 1549 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 623.
The said Williame … sall obtene … ane heretable few … of the landis of Fechill 1595 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 63.
Quha hes of his grace and his antcesstors heretable infeftments … of the sowmes particularlie efter mentionat 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 40.
Ane heretable few charter to be past and exped to the said John Alexander Ib.
They … gaue their expres consent … to the heretable fewing of the said peice of ground 1662 Irvine Mun. II. 88.
Because that I had made heretabill venditione of my landis to James Blair 1699 Conv. Burghs IV. 293.
The herretable and irredeemable right … of the milns of Forres(c) 1610 Highland P. III. 119.
The conseruatorie of ȝour Maiesteis haill forrestis … whairof … some personis pretendis hiritable title and right

3. Of persons: Holding property, position, or privilege by hereditary right. c1420 Wynt. ix. 3130.
Heretabill [C. herytabyll] lord of that selff ground 1528 Maxwell Mem. I. 259.
The said Georgis, my heretable cessonar and assigna 1540 Reg. Privy S. II. 515.
Ane lettre maid to the heretable possessouris of ane land and tenement 1588 Glenartney Docum. MS.
Patrik Lord Drummond, heretabill forestare of the said forest 1593 Grant Chart. 294.
Hearetab[i]ll possessores of the saidis landis … for ȝearellie peyment of ane pennie 1600 Acts IV. 251/1.
Andro Erle of Rothes, heretable fewfirmorar and immediat tennent of the landis of Parkhill 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII. 627.
Be ressoun he is heretabill justice, colonel, and chamberlane 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii. xv. § vi.
The Laird of Ednam was the heretable Coroner in Scotland

4. Transmitted by heredity; inherited. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 32.
Arrogance, crueltie, dissimulation, and heretabill tressoun in bayth the housis agains thair lauchfull princes