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.
Quotation dates: 1456-1490, 1549-1596
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Mutacio(u)n(e, n. Also: -atio(u)n, mwtatione. [ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E. mutacyo(u)n, -acio(u)n, -ation, OF. mutacion, F. mutation, L. mūtātio.] Mutation.
1. Change, alteration, in various specific applications. b. An instance of this. 1456 Hay II. 111/32.
Because that all thing mon be as God has ordanyt but variacioun of mutacioun or changeing c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 317.
To se mare cleirlie the coniunctioun Gif ony change war or mutatioun 1489 Acts II. 222/2.
Oure souerane lord … makis mutacioun and chengeing of the said name and ordinis the sammyn castell to be callit … Campbele 1490 Irland Mir. I. 32/7.
He that is in stabilite without mutacioune 1490 Ib. II. 28/6. 1490 Ib. MS. 345 b.
The mutacioun of the persoune & linage is richt disconuenient c1550-c1580 Art of Music 9 b.
That the … art of music suld be pervertit throw mutatioun of signis and intrusione of thame in the placis of … vther signis c1550-c1580 Ib. 34 b.
Off mutation arsis and thesis 1563 Knox VI. 531.
I am eschamed … when I considder so great mutacion within so schort a spaceb. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 21/24.
For mutations of vardly felicite is ane natural habitude —1549 Ib. 20/11 (see Mutabilite(e n. 3). — 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
To se that the order be kept in teching mutations of classis [etc.] c1575 Balfour Pract. 181.
Gif ony persoun … makis ony mutatioun, alienatioun or other dispositioun of his landis [etc.]
2. Change in matters of state or government. b. An instance of this; also, a vicissitude in public affairs. 1490 Irland Mir. MS. 345 b.
Mutacioun and changeing of princis and lawis is caus to waik the strenth and dignite of thame 1560–1 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 69.
Thai wer all … inquyret … giff thai wald be content off mutatioun off religion quhilk thai reffuset 1586 Cal. Sc. P. VIII. 358.
And to lat his majestie onderstand what opinion was had at every season … that mutation in governement had occurritb. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5453.
Than sall ryse trybulationis In erth, and gret mutationis, … Quhen vertewis of the heuin sall moue 1562-3 Winȝet I. 50/3.
Amangis wtheris strange mutationis 1596 Dalr. I. 164/36.
Heireftir meruellous mutatiounis war sein in Britannie throuch the controuersies … betuene the capitanis and the men of weir
3. A changing of sides in politics, an act of political inconstancy. 1586–7 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 327.
His inconstante deling and suddaen mwtatione
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"Mutacion n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mutacioune>
