A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456, 1513, 1567-1586
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Usance, Usaunce, Usans, n. [ME and e.m.E. vsaunce (c1380), vsance (c1460), usance (1513-14), OF usance, med. L. ūsancia.] a. Custom, established procedure, esp. of a community, etc. = Usage n. 3. b. Regular use of something. = Usage n. 2. —a. 1456 Hay I 159/17.
Efter the custum of the contree, and the usaunce of the weris 1513 Doug. iv ii 27.
The beistis … debowellit wer And thar entralis behald flekkyr and steir, Accordyng the auld vsans [Ruddim. vsage] to that effect 1513 Doug. vii x 3 (see Usage n. 3).
Vsance a1568 Bannatyne MS 72b/42.
In ȝowtheid vse thé to temprance And sa begin thé with vsance For conswetude hes full grit strenth —b. a1586 Lindsay MS 75b.
That accordit not samekill to the office of ane knycht as doit vsance of ressone and of intendement
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Usance n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/usance>
