A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Melioratio(u)n, -acioun, n. [f. as Meliorat,v.; e.m.E. melioration (1626).] Amelioration, improvement. a. In general use.1490 Irland Mir. II. 92/26.
Al maner of creatur is behaldin … to wse all the … wertu that it has … to the melioracioun and augmentacioun of the gud of the self creatur
b. Chiefly spec. Increase in the value of, or material improvement to, a benefice, property or the like. c. plur. Such improvements as carried out by the holder of a benefice, tenant of a property or other temporary occupier, and subject to reimbursement.b. 1597 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 939.
That he hes renewit no auld tack but consent of the Generall Assemblie and melioratioun of his benefice 1647 Cramond Ch. Birnie 14.
Stipend 300 merks allenarly in tyths, greatt and small. The minister to think on a way of melioration 1683–90 Soc. Ant. LIV. 236.
The accounter discharged himselfe only by the more signall reparations and meliorations of the fabrick of the Colledge 1687 Fraser P. 265.
Estimat the melioration of the mansion house and other … houses and examine whither they be made sufficient 1697 Glasgow B. Rec. IV. 244.
Which soumes are allowed to them for improvement and melioration of the saids lands by lymeing and mucking thereofc. 1625 Moray Synod 13.
Fourscoir libs. for the meliorations of the mans and gleib 1680 Fountainhall Decis. I. 95.
He should have retention of his tack duty till he were reimbursed of his meliorations 1694 Ib. 654.
But the purchaser, who, on the faith of that act, had built, would get back his price, and allowance for all his meliorations
