A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1446-1500, 1625-1700+
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
Scutcheon, -ion, -on(e, n.1 Also: scuchioun, scutshion, scuchan, -en, schuchon, scuitshine, squechon, (scuthin). [ME and e.m.E. scochoun (a1366), skogen (1459), scoochon (1486), skuttchen (1527), skouchin (1529), aphetic var. of escutcheon, ONF escuchon, central OF escusson, late L. type *scutiōn-, f. scūtum a shield.]
1. An escutcheon.‘The shield or shield-shaped surface on which a coat of arms is depicted; also, in wider sense, the shield with the armorial bearings; a … representation of this’ (OED). 1446 Exchequer Rolls V 217.
Pro uno signo armorum domini regis, scuchioun vulgariter nuncupato a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 684.
Greit squechonis on hicht, Anamalit and weill dicht 1494 Loutfut MS 48a.
iiii uerges at the iiii nukis at ilka uerge a schuchon 1625 Reg. Great S. 287/2.
Vel in paludamentis (lie cantoun in thair coatt of airmis), vel in scutis (thair scutcheonis) … arma Nove Scotie 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 271.
Bearing a saltoire with ane scutchon of the ancient armes 1629 Insh Colonial Schemes 83.
Thairon ane inscutcheone of the armes of Scotland, with ane imperiall crown above the scutchone 1657 Mure Hist. Rowallane 240.
The airs & successours of the persones aboue mentioned do beare two coats in one scutshion quarterly 1696 Foulis Acc. Bk. 188.
For my dear wifes dead chist and other timber work for the 2 scutcheons a1700 Hay Geneal. Sainteclaires 79.
The seal is … a deacon in his habit, … under whom is a scutcheon-in-cheif, … the other part of the scutcheon is broke
2. A hatchment. 1685 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LVIII 350.
30 scuchanis 8 for the cofen 16 for the paill and 6 for the horses 1693 Seafield Corr. 125.
Scutchion 1698 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 268.
To the herralds for her scuchens and horsemunting … £210 6 s. 8 d. 1699 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
For the scuitshine pale and coffine 1711 Old Ross-shire I 152.
Wm. Kerr painter in Nairne for scuthins
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Scutcheon n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/scutcheon_n_1>
