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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Usury, , -ie, n. Also: us(e)rie, usuryce, usur, wsurie. [ME and e.m.E. usure (a1325), usery (Manning), vsurye (Piers Plowman), usury (Lydgate), vsurie (c1440), OF useure, usure, med. L. usuria, L. ūsūra.]

1. a. The fact or practice of lending money at interest; the charging of exorbitant rates of interest on loans. b. pl. Instances of this.For further examples see Acts XII Index, s.v. Usury.(a) 1456 Hay I 28/27.
Off the quhilk avarice, symony, scisme and usure the mysty reik is passit fra the mouth of the pitt of hell up in hevin, and grevis God in his hye majestee
1533 Bell. Livy I 167/14.
This dett that he was awand be non-payment was ay duplyit on him be vsure and okkir
a1568 Bann. MS 80a/18.
Marchandis of louker takis bot littill hede Thair vsury is fetterit with distres
1568 St. A. Kirk S. 309 (see Usurar n. (a)).
Usurie
c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii 50.
Credit and frist is quyte away, No thing is lent bot for usure
1581 Sat. P. xliv 127.
Methuen seu adulterie so teuch, … Rou [sc. John Row] custe the vsurie hard be the beuch
1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 27a.
Leife nocht be lucrie … Ws na wsurie nor ȝit greid
1599 Acts IV 187/2.
That in the tryall of vsurie the criminall pane salbe dispensit with and the pecuniall pane insisted vpone
1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 107b (Table).
Gif ane man lends any thing, as silver, to ane other: and receaves againe mair nor he gave, he committis ocker and vsurie
1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 107b (Table).
Quha exerced and vsed vsurie and ocker all his life, vntill the time of his death, he and his heires after his death may be disheresed: and all his gudes … confiscat
a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 119.
The paine of usurie is this that the partie receaver … shall tyne his principall soume [etc.]
1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 77.
By usury on wedds and gadges Taken from widows
1681 Stair Inst. i xv § 7.
The penalty of exorbitant usury with us was that the debtor for such usury, revealing the same, should be freed of the contract, and if he did not, any other revealing it should have right to the sum given out upon usury, and profit thereof
1681 Stair Inst. ii v § 2.
The rise of annualrents is from the prohibition of usury in the canon law, which they extend to the taking of any annual, or profit for money or any other thing
1686 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 222.
[William Maxwell] obtined from Georg Mushie as having ane just right to usrie whereupon in case the said principale sumes shuld hav fald in userie
(b) c1590 Fowler I 328/1.
I do detest the Florentine, his vsuryce is so gritt
(c) 1456 Hay I 70/27.
Thair digniteis, that thai have gottyn wrangwisly throu usur scisme or symony
b. 1456 Hay I 188/33.
Usuris and barat, subtilitee and trechery

c. Excessive interest charged on a loan.Some quots. in a above may properly belong here. 1597 Acts IV 119/2.
The exhorbitant proffeitt and vsurie tane for the lane of money is … be the law of God condampnit [and] … be his maiesteis lawis and actis of parliament restreanit

2. Use, enjoyment. c1590 Fowler II 30/4.
My grandfather … ȝe & befor them thair proginitours on baith the sides, sa lang as thay had the vsury of this life hes bene obedient subiects vnto thair Kings

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"Usury n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 22 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/usury>

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