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.
Lufetenand-general(l, n. Also: luftennend-, luiftennand-, leuf-, lov-, leov-, lowetennent-. [Cf. Levetenand-, Lieutenant-, Lutennant-.]
1. An officer wielding extensive civil or military authority delegated to him by the sovereign; the vicegerent of a kingdom or of part of it; the sovereign's deputy or second in command of the army. = Lufetenand n. 1–2.c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 903.
[Alexander arranges the commands of his army:] Syne maid he his luftennend generall, That is to say the duke of his battall, The duke of battall suld the vangarde haue.The leftennend suld gouern all the laue And with the counsall of the duzepeiris Suld set all offeiciaris as to thame affeiris 1528 Lynd. Dreme 567.
Off that tryumphand courte celestiall Sanct Peter was lufetenand generall 1565 Irvine Mun. I. 51.
Mathow Erle of Levenax lorde Dernelie, luftennende generall in the west pairtis of Scotlande to our soverane lorde and lady 1565 Lennox Mun. 264.
Leuftennente generall 1565 Ib. 265.
We charge ȝow … that … ȝe pasand in our soueraineis nayme, auctorite and myne, thair luftennend generall a1578 Pitsc. I. 396 heading.
How the Erle of Huntlie was maid luiftennand generall [upon the Borders]
2. As the title of the high-ranking army officer.1635 Sutherland Corr. 159.
The Lowetennent-General Riwane [in Germany] 1651 Peebles B. Rec. I. 393.
[To] go in to Lovtennent Generall Lambert and regrait the lossis which was committit be the Inglis armie 1685 Rothesay B. Rec. 406.
Six score men to be sent to the westerne shyres to meit at Mayboyle to receave comands from Leovtenent Generall Drumond