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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Statioun, n. Also: station(e, stacyon, stashan. [ME and e.m.E. stacio(u)n (Wyclif), stacyon (a1445), stacyown (1447), stasyon (c1450), stacon (c1485), statyon (1509), station (1551), F. station (1170 in Larousse), L. statiōn-, f. stāre to stand.]The earliest examples are translations of the Latin.

1. A position allocated to one, specif., in military use, a guard-post. Passing into sense 1 b below. 1513 Doug. ix iv 43.
Thai war in statioun [L. statione] set, … to kepe the common ȝet 1533 Bell. Livy I 250/28.
The men of armes sa halelie distroyit that thai war nocht onelie insufficient to rais … ane armye … bot als mycht skarsly mak quiet staciouns [L. stationes] in the ciete 1533 Bell. Livy I 284/5.
The Romanis … be wilfull eruptiouns fra thare statiouns [L. stationibus] and vigilis effrayit the Equis 1533 Bell. Livy II 165/30.
Thare watching and statioun [L. statione] 1533 Bell. Livy II 219/18.
Thare statioun or watche [L. stationes] 1533 Bell. Livy 216/30.
Thai will ly doun … but ony mvnicioun statioun or watche [L. sine munimento sine stationibus ac custodiis] 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii 116.
Their … priests are bred here and from hence dispersed to their severall stations 1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 25.
It may be said of many; they pass without their station, and they let Gods march-stones be removed and that makes them but a poor life of it 1692 S. Leith Rec. 169.
The session allows the minister to draw a paper anent the ordering of the stationes of those that are to serve the tyme of celebrating the Lords Supper

b. A place, position or office held by a person; a person's position in society. 1600-1610 Melvill 6.
I durst na wayes waver … bot stand stedfast in that roum and station wher he haid placed me 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 249.
Everie one in your stations, nobles, peires, and worthies of the land 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 478.
To requite every man to the full in his several station a1651 Calderwood VII 357.
He wold not offend the king by not conforming … but … people interpreted this forsaking of his station, … onlie of love of ease 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 194.
That duety yow owe to his sacred Majestie in your stationes 1679 Wodrow Hist. III (1829) 118.
All such as haue malversed in any public station or trust 1683 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 19.
That non undar the yeares off twonte on yeares shall be admitet to anay off thes stashanes

2. A place designated as a stopping-place for prayer, etc. on specific occasions; the action of stopping to pray, etc. at a particular location or of processing around a number of such locations; the ritual of so doing. a1538 Abell 10*b.
Stacyones of Lentryn ordand paip Gregoir a1538 Abell 49b.
Paip Gregoir … ordanit the stationis of Lentryne a1538 Abell 64b.
Sche deit betwix Collis and Sanct Clementis kirk quharfore sche is nocht numerit amang the laif of the papis and in that streit the paip makis nocht statioun a1538 Abell 72a.
The lentrin folloand in statioun hes ws wes he passit to ane chapell … to say mes [etc.] 1580–1 King's Confession in Dickinson Source-bk. III 34.
We … refuse … his justification by workes, … meritis, perdones, peregrinationes and stationeis 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 455.
We detest … the vsurped auctoritie of that Roman Antichrist … his … pardons, peregrinatiouns and stations and holie water

b. transf. A regularly-observed fast-day. Also attrib. 1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Ceremonies iii iv 78.
No man taketh the Stations to have beene occasionall, but only set fastsattrib. 1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Ceremonies iii iv 78.
Their set dayes of 150 fasting which were called station dayes

3. A place of anchorage. 1666 Glasgow Chart. II 100.
Making use nether of the harbour of Dumbartowne nor of any uther harbour bot only of ane naiked and open statione which is four mylles from the north syde

4. The position reached, on a particular occasion, by the mercury in a barometer. 1688 Sinclair Weather Glass 29.
When the mercury is at the highest station, … how many days doth it prognostick rain, before it come?