Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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.

Atto(u)rnay, Actornay, n.¹ Also: atornay, attourena, atturna(y; actorna, actorne(y, actournay, acturney. [ME. attorn-, attourn-, atturney, attourné, atorné, AF. attourné, OF. atorn-, atourn-, aturné, p.p. of atorner, etc., to appoint. Hence also med. L. att-, actornatus. The common spelling with act- may (in addition to the usual confusion of c and t) have been due to association with Actour.] One appointed to act for another in matters of law or business; an authorized agent.(a) 14.. Acts I. 114/2.
That na seriand in burgh or in barouny may be forspekar na attornay agayn ony man in the court quhar he is seriand 1446 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 313.
To gife and deliuer … possessioun and seysing of the said landis … to the said Robert … or till his certane attornay 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 113.
Than the balyeys and the qwest yhed furth and gayf hym sessyng has he that was lachful atornay for the arris(b) 1408 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 221.
Oure procuratours and speciale attournais 1425 Acts II. 9/2.
That na man be admittit to be attournay in the Justice ayr bot gif he be ane honest & sufficiande persone of discrecion for that office 1452 Maxwell Mem. I. 170.
To the saide Johnne of Maxwaile or til his lauchfull attourena 1464 Fam. Innes 78.
Tharfor yhe gif … posessione of the said lands … to the said James … or his certane attournayis 1527 Carnwath Baron Ct. 41.
James Kello his atturnay at that tyme 1541 Misc. Bann. C. III. 420.
John Symmervaill atturna for the said Patrik Hepburne 1570 Leslie 88.
Alse ye writ that slayers be sey aucht not compair personallie, bot be thair atturnayis(c) 1380 Charter (Reg. H.).
Qvat tyme at he will aske me or his actornes in his name that I sall gif hym my chartyr 1391 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 163.
I require yow … as lauchful actornay to my saide wyfe … that yhe grant [etc.] 1505 Stirlings of Keir 281.
That ȝe pas and entyr the foresaid Williȝame … or his actornay, till the foresaid landis 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 283/2.
A salf conduct to Johne Small, Inglisman, … twa factouris, twa acturnais, and twa servandis of his 1516 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 49.
That ȝe giff heretable sesing … to the said Elizabeth, or hir certane actournay 1579 Acts III. 121/2.
Thir personis wnderwryttin comperit personalle and vtheris be thair actornais and procuratoreis 1630 Skene Mem. 210.
Thair deputies or actornayes 1652 Wemyss Chart. 239.
To the said … Countes … or to hir actorney 1655 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 346.
The saidis principall professores and regentes … or ther certane acturney