A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Occupatio(u)n, n. Also: occupatio(u)ne, -acio(u)n(e, ocupation(e. [ME. (1387) and e.m.E. oc(c)upacioun, -ion, -yon, occupation, F. occupation (12th c. in Hatz.Darm.), L. occupātio.]
1. The action of taking possession, (passing into:) the being in possession, the holding, tenure or occupancy (of land or other property).1442 Stirlings of Keir 216.
To compere befor … the Kyng and his consale … for the wrangwyse occupacioun of the said landis 1456 Hay I. 295/6.
The wrangwis occupacioun of realmes be unrychtwis title 1464 Liber Aberbr. II. 141.
Occupacioune 1466 Acta Aud. 5/2; etc. 1481 Peebles B. Rec. I. 188.
With the ws and occupation of thre of the four lityll pantreis in the south end of the samyn 1482 Acta Aud. 107.
The wrangwis occupatioun of diuers housis 1490 Acta Conc. I. 149/1; etc. 1493 Ib. 278/1.
The wrangwis occupacion and withalding of the croys and fisching 1498 Ib. II. 216.
For the wrangus … stoppin … of thame in the occupatioun, manuring, ering and lauboring of the landis 1507 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 77. 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 173. 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII. 358.
The saidis landis of Drigrange be continuall vse and occupatioun thairof ar becumin to … infertilitie and vnplentwisnes 1576 Fam. Innes 131.
In the maisterfull occupatioun … of … the saidis landis of Reidhall 1643 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 21.
[The defender was ordained to pay £8] teynd deuetie … for his occupatioun of certaine rudis of Inrourie
b. The holding or enjoyment (of an office or post).1466 Acta Aud. 3/1.
The wrangwis occupacion & execucion of the office of balȝery of the landis of the barony of Vchiltre 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 105.
For the haldin of it [sc. the causeway] clene … thai haif namit … Thomas Glendunwyne … and discharges the pynouris that had the occupatioun thairof of before
2. Engagement or employment in some task or business.1456 Hay I. 32/13.
Certaynly the key of the jurisdictioun of avarice and of folye … and nocht of gude occupacioun a1500 Quare Jel. 153.
For this ladies sak Sa mekle occupacioun schall I tak … for to … writt Of jelouse folk sum thing in to dispitt a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ. 46.
He is maist wise that dalie hes in mynd Himself to keip in occupacioun 1513 Doug. vii. vii. 80.
Thyne occupatioun standis on othir thingis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1276. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 58.
As to my occupation at thys present tyme, I am besy with our story of Scotland 1577 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 392.
His grace had no leisure to talke with them for occupatioun 1589 Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 279.
Spare na travell to latt us find … that your occupation in that worke hes not bene fruitles
3. A task or business in which one is engaged; an employment or job.c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 38.
I … proponit … till inquer and leir … of al thingis … the quhilk was the werst occupacione that man in erd mycht set hym 1525 Stirling B. Rec. I. 22.
[To] warne all kaik bakstaris … to dissist and scise fra the said occupacion 1549 Compl. 43/18.
The maist anciant nobilis … desirit … to laubir rustic ocupation on the hoilsum feildis Ib. 67/28.
Ocupatione a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xli. 179.
Or I get honest occupatioun 1588 King Cat. 22.
Ane prayer quhilk S. Thomas of Aquine vsed to saye beffoir he begoud his occupations 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii. 38.
The prouest of Hammiltoun … Fand me with ky, ane kyndlie occupatioun 1598 Melvill Propine 32.
Men in private occupations runnes loose [etc.]
4. An employment as a means of livelihood; a trade, profession or calling.1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 159.
That na vagaboundis that hes na occupatioun nor maister to serue 1554–5 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XV. 11.
The baxteris of this burgh hes maist contemptuouslie … abstenit fra all baiking of breid and using of thair occupatioun as thai aucht to do 1587 Acts III. 507/2.
That the saidis strangearis ar cum within this realme to exercise thair craft and occupatioun in making of … covertouris of beddis 1612 Sutherland Chart. 183.
They are specialie set doun in the cattologue of thair occupatiounes 1616 Edinb. Test. XLIX. 164 b.
The saidis bairnes … to be put to sum craftis and occupaciouns 1675 Galloway P. 7 Apr.
Acording to ther severall ocupationes 1682 St. A. Baxter Bks. 141.
That all brethrin of traid … vsing occupatione of traid shall pay veiklie … the soume of ane schilling Scottis
b. The body of those following a particular trade or occupation, a craft incorporation.1516 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 164.
That all maner of browsteris … fulfill the statutes … anent the pryce of the aill … vnder the payne of spayning fra the occupatioun for yeir and day 1530–1 Ib. II. 45.
Occupatione 1531 (c 1580) Ib. II. 50. 1533 Edinb. Hammermen 137 b.
He and all vtheris feit men & prentes within our said occupacioun and fredome of this brucht 1548 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II. 141.
In hurt of the occupatioun of cordiners 1567 Dundee B. Laws 373.
To ony brother of the occupatioun forsaid 1598–9 Perth Tailors 16 Feb.
[The deacon receives] Jhone Androw teailȝeor freman to the libertie and occupatioune of the said craft
5. The figure of speech, L. occupatio.i.e. by which one states or describes something under the guise of declining to do so.1586 J. Melvill in Calderwood IV. 506.
[He] easilie may perceave this to be a wicked calumnie, cast in in a maner of occupatioun, to make the ministrie … odious to his majestie
