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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.

Canon(e, Canoun(e, n. Also: cannon(e, -oun, can(n)own(e. [ME. and OE. canon (ME. also canoun, -own, e.m.E. cannon), OF. and L. canon.]

1. Canon Law. (See 3.) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii. 28.
In duble science tacht wes he; In cannone and diuinite c1420 Wynt. viii. 414; Ib. 458.
Doctor solempne … He wes in canown and cyvyle 1535 Stewart 60470.
Ane doctour … Into canone or in theologie

2. A canon, in various senses. c1420 Wynt. v. 400.
Twa pystyllys off canowne thare he wrate Ib. 1251.
Syne in till the canowne he Made off the mes Qui Pridie a1500 Henr. III. 152/62.
It is clippit [= called] in our cannon Dia glecolicon 1562-3 Winȝet II. 25/9.
Contrare the diuine canoun Ib. 70/11.
To interpret that canoun or reul 1622-6 Bisset I. 8/26.
Sanct Guthagonus … wes banisched … , as the cannoun thairanent beiris

3. Law cano(u)n or cano(u)n law, ecclesiastical law (freq. in expressed contrast with Civil a.).(1) 1400 Maxwell Mem. 141.
Na remede of lach canoun na ciuyle to be proponit in the contrary 1413 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 364.
Na remede in lach canon na ciuile agayne standand c1420 Wynt. viii. 524.
That ilke custwme … suld be … Preferryd till lawys imperyalle, Canowne, or othir custwmale 1432 Newbattle MS. (Reg. H.) 20 March.
Qwhil the sayd soume … be fullyly … payit … , na remed of ony law canon or ciuile in the contrar 1456 Hay I. 264/26.
For the lawis canoun ar all in the contrair Ib. 290/36.
In the bukis of the law canoun c1515 Asl. MS. I. 329/10.
And als lawis cannoun, ciuile & positiue, ar bot pendiklis apon Cristis law of grace 1519 Buccleuch Mun. II. 136.
Na remeid of law cannon or cywil [etc.](2) 1535 Stewart 60474.
Ane bachleir … In theologie or into canoun law c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4264.
To quhome no prince may be compare, As canon lawis can declare 1558-66 Knox II. 141.
I knaw nothing but the cannoun law 1571 Sat. P. xxviii. 77.
Aganis thair cannoun law thay gaif decreit 1596 Dalr. II. 40/10.
Bachler in the canon law

b. In similar use with juge, etc. 1472 Lennox Mun. 87.
Neuer to be herd in jugement befor ony juge, canon or ciuile, anens the clame 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 397.
To compell ws be all manner of compulsioun canon or ciuill to compleit … this oure said obligatioun