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

Strenȝeabil(l, Strenȝeable, adj.¹ Also: strenȝeabyll, -abell, strenyeabill, -abile, -able, strenȝeampill, strenȝable, strenȝaibill, strengȝeable, strengyabill, stranȝeable, stranȝeȝampill, streinȝeable, streinȝieabill, -able, streinyeable, streinyieable, streingyable, strinȝeable, -bille, strinyeabill, stringȝeable, stringe-, stringibill, stroenȝeable. [Aphetic form of Distrenȝ(e)abil(l adj.]

1. Of lands, buildings or goods: Capable of being distrained; suitable for seizing or repossessing by way of enforcing payment or fulfilment of an obligation. Freq. const. for (rents, etc.).To be suitable for distraint lands had to be cultivated, buildings habitable and goods in reasonable condition.(1) 14.. Acts I 339/2.
Na man sall bruke the libertie … of the burgh bot gif he haue ane land inhabit and streinȝeable within ȝeare and day after his entres 1477–8 Reg. Episc. Glasg. II 460.
Strenȝeabil 1496 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 340.
I … discharge me of the tua markis ȝerlie assignit to me of thar kirk bred quhat tyme that thai mak me siker of tua markis ȝerlie … in ony uther strenȝeable place 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 311.
He sal hald als mekle gudis strenȝeable in the sade land for the payment of the sade annuale c1500 Barounis Lawis 13a.
And that ilk tenement be void & waist be all that tyme and nocht strenȝeable 1510–11 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 11.
Strinyeable [MS strinȝeable] 1511 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 13.
Robert Scot past to ane tenement of land of James Browne … and thair fand na thing stringeabille [MS strinȝeabille] to the availe of the annuell of the saide tenement 1529 Wigtown B. Ct. 217a.
His land was nocht strenȝeabyll & the alderman & balȝeis inclusyt hyme in the tobuith fore falt of soverte 1530 Grey Friars 79.
The forsaid seriand and witnes men past to the said tenement … and couth fynd na thing strenȝaibill bot erd and stane 1536 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 191.
Streenȝeable 1540 Elgin Rec. I 51.
The prouest and bailȝeis commandat the officiaris to pund termlye ony strengyabill bigging of the forsaid landis for the forsayd annell 1543 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. I 114.
The ground ought to be poinded, and the same not being streinyieable, then the lands to be apprised for the mails 1560–1 Mylne Master Masons 56.
And because the said officer could apprehend na guds strenȝable upon the ground of the said laind … he presentit erd and stane in ane pocket, as use is, for his second Court of recognition 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 218.
Streinyeable 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 245.
Strinyeabill 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 446.
[Their whole goods and possessions [shall be] made] stringȝeable [to the parties or their lawful factors] 1597 Paisley B. Rec. 190.
All sic persouns [who] … hes na guids streingyable, … That sic personis be put in ward, and the Tolbutht duir cloissit upon thame 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 18b.
Gif the debtour, or his tennants (husband men) hes moueable gudes: first of all, they salbe distrenȝeid for payment of the debt, to the creditour. 2. And gif they haue na strenȝeabell gudes: the Schiref, and the Kings servants, before the court rise, sall advertise the debtour, that for inlaik of moueable gudes, they are bound be the law to sell his lands and possessions to satisfie the creditour 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 113b.
Streinȝeable 1642 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 38.
Strinȝeableellipt. c1575 Balfour Pract. 46.
Item, Na man may bruik … the libertie of ane burges, bot gif he have ane biggit land and streinȝeable within ȝeir and day efter his entrie(2) 1465 Peebles B. Rec. I 153.
Quhill the forsaid land be bygit and strenyeabill for the said ij s. of annuell be yer 1469 Newburgh B. Ct. 45b.
To be stranȝeȝampill for the vi s. of annwall & effeyr the ded off Agnes the syster of the forsayd Robert the hall lande to be strenȝeampill for the forsayde vi s. 1490 Lanark B. Rec. 6.
The court sa wardit fand the grunde … sawyn and pl[enysit] and strenyeable for the said anwell by run 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 27.
Strenyeabile 1508 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 205.
Ane plaice … strenȝeabill for the pament of the saide sex markis 1524 Prot. Bk. J. Foular III 166.
Becaus I culd nocht apprehend his movable gudis strenyeable for the said soume & becaus [etc.] 1536 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 132.
[The] saidis landis … ver socht and seichtit and culd nocht be comprehendit thairon for the tym strengȝeable for byrone mailis and doweittis foyrsaid 1568 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 159.
[He] culd apprehend nane [goods] strinyeabill for fulfilling of the saidis letters bot ane auld pres and ane firebed 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 71.
The shereffis and officiaris … past, serchit and socht the saidis Alexanderis movabill gudis strenyeabill for the saidis sowmes, and apprehendit diverse his cornis … and offerit and preparit thame to have threschin the saidis cornis 1573 Grant Chart. 152.
Stranȝeable c1575 Balfour Pract. 399.
Streinȝieabill

2. Of persons: Liable to distraint; capable of fulfilling financial obligations. 1460 Stewart Mem. 64.
The said Schire Andro be assythit of all malis of the said landis … awand till him of all strenȝeabill dettouris 1522 Acta Conc. MS XXXIII 35b.
Scho is indegent and is nocht strenȝeable thairfor in landis nor gudis 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 90.
Schir Niniane chargit Wolle Trumbull to answer for his anuell, for the said pouir man is stringibill in your tenement and was stringebill thairefter ane yer and ane halff 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I 274.
Leky … now being fugityve at the weris and not strenȝeable 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 15.
And gif thai dout upone our habilitie that we ar not strenȝeabill we sall set sufficient souertie to rander our haill intromissioun to thame haifing tytill thairto [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
And gif the persones swa arreisted be nocht streinȝieable the Crowne sall arreist their gudes 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 84.
Ilke frie man may be borgh for himselfe in court, or outwith court, for his awin vnlaw, or other small things; swa he be responsall, and strenȝeabill to the judge