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

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

Supportatio(u)n, n. Also: -io(u)ne, supportacioun, -ion(e, supportasion, suportacion. [ME and e.m.E. supportacion (Chaucer), supportacioun (Lydgate), supportation (1427), OF supportation (OED), late L. supportation-, f. as Support v.]

1. Assistance; backing. = Support n. 1.Freq. in collocation with help, supplé, etc.(1) 1465 Exch. R. VII 321 n.
[He] has … cummyn in to this oure realme … for succour and supportacioun 1466 Reg. Morton II 214.
Gyfe it sal happin the said James … throw favouris helpe supportacione or supple of the said reuerende fadir … til optene and recouer … the landis of Mortone 1473 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier App. 514.
Traisting … to have throu him supportatione, aide, and supplie in the said matter 1489 Acta Aud. 136/2.
Without consale help & supportatioun of his kyn & frendis 1533 Boece 241.
Sen we lippin fra thame na supportacioun nor supple 1533 Boece 252b.
Our nacioun … had be diuers legaciouns implorit in vane supportacioun at Romanis 1533 Boece 329.
Gif ane man of gude … desirit at him supportacioun, he gaif him largelie money 1535 Stewart 59276.
In[to] Scotland ane ambaxat he send, … For supportatioun that tyme and supple … Agane the King of Ingland 1535 Stewart 34422 (see Supplé n.¹ 1 (5)). 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2408 (Ch.).
Is this the part my lords that ȝe will tak to mak vs supportatioun to correct? c1552 Lynd. Mon. 341.
Ȝitt can I neuer fynd quhare rest Doith mak his habitatioun, Withoute your [sc. Experience's] supportatioun 1570 Sat. P. xiii 223.
Pray for the nobill Quene of Ingland, Quha in our neid still sends vs supportatioun

b. A source of assistance; a provider of aid.1533 Bell. Livy II 69/19 (see Supportabilladj.).

2. Financial support or subvention (of or to a person or thing). Also, of or in (expenses). = Support n. 2. 1482 Bamff Chart. 32.
The some of twenti markis to the suportacion of the said Gilbert and Mergret to fill a tyk to thair awne ouse utilite and prophet 1493–4 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 334 (see Supplé n.¹ 1 (3)).
Supportacione 1513–14 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 7.
Of the setting of the quenis houshald and quhat persouns and officeris ar necessar tharto and to avis of the expens for the supportatioun of the samin 1515–16 Reg. Privy S. I 421/1.
For his supportatioun and furnysing of his expens now passing in the realme of Ingland in the kingis ambassiatry 1532–3 Reg. Privy S. II 208/2.
For the supportatioun of our comptrollar in the expens of our hous 1547 Perth Guildry 251.
The profite and fredom siluer … in parte of supportatioun to the said Schir Robert

b. Payment, defraying the cost (of purchases, etc.). = Support n. 2 b. 1535 Acts II 344/2.
Ane gratitude is grantit to the kingis grace be the thre estatis … for supportatioune of sik necessar erandis as his grace hes ado 1542 Misc. Spald. C. II lxxxiii.
To the supportatioun of bying of certane small thingis to hir proper vse

3. Supply, provision (of necessaries). = Support n. 3. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 90.
Vith supportasion off syk niscessers as hir grace and the guvernur hes vrayting for vith hir imbassaturs

4. Maintenance, preservation in being. Const. possess. or of a person or thing. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1672.
All creature he maid for the behufe Off man, and to his supportatioun 1489 Acts II 220/2.
For the mare sure supportacioun excelleratioun of justice 1533 Boece 361.
He suld send to him power in supportacion of his weris contrare Scottis

5. Chiefly in legal contexts: The action of holding or supporting a person in order to prevent his collapse; also, an instance of this. = Support n. 5 a.(1) 1533 Boece 383b.
Vtheris wan salflie the ȝonder land be supportacioun of marrowis quhilk beȝond the flude beheld the batell 1681 Stair Inst. iii iv § 28.
The excellent law of deathbed, securing men's inheritances from being alienated at that time, may happen to be frustrated and evacuated, if their coming to church or market be not done in such a public and solemn manner, as may give some evidence of their re-convalescence, without supportation, or straining of nature 1681 Stair Inst. iii iv § 28.
Deathbed was not found elided by riding on horseback a journey of about sixteen miles, seeing the party had a man who rode behind him, and for some part of the way he was tied to the man; which was found to be supportation 1681 Stair Inst. iii iv § 28.
Taking the party by the hand, or helping him at a ragged ground, would not infer supportatioun, there being no design of cautiousness in the party, but using his ordinary way 1681 Stair Inst. iii iv § 28.
In this case also it was found, that supportation was more positively proven, albeit by fewer witnesses, the witnesses themselves being supporters 1685 Fountainhall Decis. I 336.
That every going in coach should imply supportation and death-bed(2) 1694 Fountainhall Decis. I 612.
In the case of Colquhoun of Luss, the going in a coach to the Abbey Church was found a supportation