A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Portionist, n. [med. L. portionista (1499 in Du Cange), f. L. portiōn- Portio(u)n(e n. Cf. later Eng. portionist a ‘poor scholar’ at Merton College, Oxford (a 1672), an incumbent sharing a benefice (1743).] A student (at St. Andrews) receiving a ‘portion’ (Portio(u)n(e n. 1 b), one ‘who boarded with the principal or some one of the regents to whom [he] paid a stipulated fee for [his] board and education’. —1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 7.
The steuart to be payit be the principal off the profet of the portionistis
