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.
Quotation dates: 1398-1456, 1541-1664
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Impositioun, n. Also: -ityown, -itione, -icioun, -icion. [ME. imposiscion (c 1374), -icion, -ition, L. impositio.]
1. A tax or duty imposed or levied; an impost. 1398 Acts I. 212/1.
At thai [the burgesses] be fre fra all maner of imposicion set apon the saummondis c1420 Wynt. v. 1548.
He his comownys on na wys Wyth imposityownys wald supprys c1420 Ib. 5026.
He excedyt all mesoure Off ill … extorsyownys And grevous imposityownys 1456 Hay I. 187/2.
Gif men of haly kirk suld pay ony tailles or imposiciouns 1541 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 105.
Anent the doungetting of the xii d and new impositioun maid in France thairof upon ilk frank 1563 Acts II. 544/2.
The burrowis … ar maist heuylie hurt … be the lait impositioun and custume rasit vpone thame be the King of Denmark 1641 Peebles B. Rec. 104.
Togidder with the … tolles, customes, impositiounes, exactiounes [etc.] … quhilkis ar knawin to pertein to the saides … mercatis
b. Attrib. with chamber. 1661 Edinb. B. Rec. IX. 229.
The impositioun chamber at the Trone Kirk 1664 Ib. 351.
That the impositione chamber hath beene heavilie burthened with the advancing of money … for satisfeing the Kings annuitie
2. The laying on (of hands) in ordination. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 100/17.
Quhidder hes it [sc. ordination] the visible signe, videlicet, the impositioun of handes 1600-1610 Melvill 419.
To receave Mr Robert Bruce, minister, … and giff him impositioun of handes c1615 Chron. Kings 181.
The Bischop of Glesgow … wes consecratt be impositione of handis be the Bischop of Canterberry
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"Impositioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/impositioun>
