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: 1456-1661
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Instructio(u)n, n. Also: instruc(c)ioun(e, instruccyoune, (instrucsion). [ME. instruccio(u)n (1412–20), L. instructio.]
1. Instruction, teaching. 1456 Hay II. 66/5.
His werkis … was all to geve us gude instructioun to governe us in syklike maner 1456 Ib. 78/25.
To teche otheris and geve thame instructiounis and documentis c1460 Thewis Gud Women 229.
Quhen thai haf nan instruccyoune Na for thar misdeid puniscioune a1500 Henr. Orph. 418.
To wryte this feynit fable … For oure doctryne, and gude instruction 1569 Reg. Privy C. I. 675.
[The Regent] hes fund the saidis personis … unmeit to haif cure of the instructioun of the yowth 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 105.
Ilk bairn resaning instructioun in the said Hie Scole a1578 Pitsc. I. 116/25.
That he micht gif him instruction and learneing quhow he suld invaid that gret perrell 1661 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 200.
At such … hours … as sall not be prejudiciall to ther instructioun and attendance in the gramar scooll
2. plur. Directions, orders. 1521 Douglas Corr. 78.
I and utheris hes presentlie directe this berar … towart the kingis grace … appone certane necessare instructiounes 1542 Acts II. 411/2.
The instructionis to the imbassatouris to be send to the King of Ingland 1615 Highland P. III. 235.
George Grahame denyis that the instrucsionis … wer subscryuit be the Lord Cancellar
3. Supporting with evidence, substantiation. 1587 Acts III. 460/2.
The haill accusatioun, ressoning, writtis, witnesis and vther probatioun and instructioun quhatsumeuer of the cryme 1622-6 Bisset I. 168/1.
Because the persewer … foundis his summoundis or lybell upoun ane tytill in wreit, he suld produce the samin in the begynning of the pley, for instructioun of his lybell
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"Instruction n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/instructioun>
