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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Amerciament, n. Also: amercyament, amersiament (amersament), amerceament, amerchiament (admerciament). [ME. amerciament (c 1425), med.L. amerciamentum, f. amerciare; see Amerciate v. Cf. Amerciment n.]

1. The condition of being subject to a pecuniary penalty at the discretion of the court or judge. 14.. Acts I. *92/2.
[If he] cummys noȝt … or the ryngin of the bel cese, he salbe in his amerciament 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 115.
Pat Kellou dempstar wardit John Hau in amersament 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 4.
Dom gewin … that the said Cuthbert is in amerciament for falt of apperans 1520 Stirling B. Rec. I. 7.
Johen the scherra was in amerciament for the regrathing of the Kingis burgis 1556 Inverness B. Rec. I. 2.
The sayd Thom is jugit in admerciament and dome gyfin thairapon 1573–4 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 2.
Margaret Andro is fund in the wrang and amerchiament of court for trublance done be hir to Jonet Tailyour 1604 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 34.
Jon Guthrie … is convicted in amerciament of court for miscalling of Thomas Kempt 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. 3.
David Philip … was convict and put in amerciament of court

2. The fine or mulct so imposed. Freq. plural.Common in legal formulæ during 15–17th cent.(a) 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 294.
The amerciamentis and the profites of thir courtes cummand 1448 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 114.
That ȝe nothir in tym cumin … lift na rais amersiament na unlaw for the causis 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 10.
Item of amerciament for the quhilk Wedast Gresone wes bundin for his cousing, l li. 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 269/1.
All amerciamentis and unlawis he or his suferteis wer adjudgeit in 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II. 43.
Thai … sall do thair det to our corn miln … vnder pane of ane amercyament 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Sak.
Quhilk may be called the vnlaw or amerciament paied be him 1641 Peebles B. Rec. 101.
Small customes, escheites, and amerciamentis of courtes 1655 Stitchill Baron C. 5.
Fynes and amerceaments and penaltyes … to be employed for their Table uses(b) 1492 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 26.
Grantand to our said balȝe our full powar … amerchiamentis to lift and rais 1522 Stirlings of Keir. 318.
With court and playnt of the saidis landis, … amerchiamentis and eschietis thairof 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 738/1.
Witht court, plaint, … unlauis, amerchiamentis and aschaetis 1602 Misc. Spald. C. I. 83.
Committand to thame oure full power … amerchiamentis, and escheittis … to ask, lift, and rais 1641 Acts V. (1817) 574/1.
Amerchiamentes … to ask [etc.]