Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Publican(e, n. Also: publicain, publycan, (puplican). [ME (Manning) and e.m.E. publycan, publican, F. publicain (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. pūblicān-us, ME (Orm, Ancr. R.) also pup(p)lican (appar. obs. in 15th c.), OF poplican.] a. Orig., a tax-gatherer for the ancient Roman state. (In Biblical quotations and allusions.) b. From the passage ‘a hethin man and a puplican’ (Matth. xviii 17) passing into: one given over to sin, a reprobate, a spiritual outcast. c. Hence, more generally, a villain, profligate.(1) a1400 Leg. S. x 12.
& quha in hopyne syne is tane, The ewangell callis publicane c1490 Irland Asl. MS 46/9.
For the publicane prayit in the ewangell Deus propicius esto michi peccatori Id. Mir. I 20/11.
And of this is exempill of the Phariȝean and the publican in the xviii chepture of Sanct Luke c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. ix 10.
Mony publicanis and synful men 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 378.
Off Rome rakaris, nor of rude ruffianis, Off calsay paikaris, nor of publycanis c1552 Id. Mon. 78.
On publicanis makyng punyssioun Arundel MS 252/412.
Publicane 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 178/20. 1561 in Calderwood II 81.
We, not one or two, but the whole church, must hold him as a publicane; that is, as one cutt off frome the bodie of Christ 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
Of laik patrones they becomme but lawlesse publicans(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xviii 17.
Be he as a hethin man and a puplican to thee 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 5.
[He] salbe … haldin as ane ethnik or ane publicane 1562-3 Winȝet I 137/3.
Ethnikis and renigatis [MS publicanis] 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 40/10.
Gyf he refuse to heer the kirk also, lat him be to thé as ane heathen and publicain 1586 Melvill in Calderwood IV 544. 1646 Hist. Pluscardyn 141.
Publicane