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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.

Commissionar, -er, n. Also: comissionar, commissinar, commysseoner, comisioner, -ishoner, -istioner, co(m)mes(s)ioner, commessener; commissenor, -messenour, comichenour. [Med. L. commissionarius, OF. commissionaire, e.m.E. commyssyoner, comyscyoner (1448).]

1. One charged or entrusted with a commission, esp. of a public or political nature.(a) 1496 Acta Conc. II. 9.
The complaynt made … anent the landis of Abirnethy pertenyng to the saidis personis be ressone of tak and assedacione set be the Kingis hienes his commissionaris 1532 Treas. Acc. VI. 61.
My lord of Sanctandros … to gif compt of the chalmerlandrie of Fyff to the commissionaris depute to heir the samyn 1558-66 Knox II. 338.
The … ministeris within this realme, together with the commissionaris of the hoill churches 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 225.
The pacificatioun accordit upoun … betuix our Soverane Lordis commissionaris … on the ane part [etc.] Ib. 228.
The nixt Generall Assemble of the Kirk or Commissionaris thairof a1578 Pitsc. II. 14/2.
That causit him … be contentit to cheis certane commissionaris to dres the matter. The quhilk commissioneris met at Kirklestoune 1600-1610 Melvill 423.
The King and Commissionars bathe war carles of him 1617 Acts IV. 539/2.
The saidis Commissionaris … sall send … a schorte abbreuiat of the cause thereoff 1650 Blairs P. 27.
The propositiones of our Puritaine commissionares to the king are [that] he signe their couenant(b) 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 148.
The lairdis of Corswell [etc.] … , commissioneris for veseing of the futemen to be rasit within the sherefdomes quhair thai dwell 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 328.
M^r Randolph and the mershell of Berwick come … as commissioneris … , to treat vpon agrieance betuixt the castle and toun of Edinburgh 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 472.
To Mr John Ros for his expenssis in ryding commissioner to remove the bucket fischeing in the wast 1651 Carnegie Lett. & Chart. 445.
Ther was ane petticione drawne up in my name to the comishoners for letters of recommendation for your inlardgment 1678 Stirlings of Keir 515.
The reasone off my long stay heare is … to waitte upon the Comishoner hes Grace

2. A representative of a burgh, esp. at the convention of burghs. Cf. Commissar n. 3.(a, b) 1478 Misc. Spald. C. V. 26.
For certane commissionaris of this burgh, to be send til his Hienes 1491 Conv. Burghs I. 504.
David Menȝeis … and Iohne Colisoun was chosin commissionaris … to pas to Edinbrughe … to commoun with vtheris commissionaris of burrowis 1517 Acts XII. 37/2.
We underwrittin spirituale and temporale and Commissionaris of Burrowis representing the thre Estatis of Scotland 1552 Conv. Burghs I. 5.
Iohne Cragelt … , prouest of Striueling, and Iames Farnlie, commissionaris thairof 1558-66 Knox I. 100.
The Commissionaris of browghtis, and a parte of the Nobilitie, requyred of the Parliament [etc.] 1574 Conv. Burghs I. 31.
The … commissionaris all in ane voice fyndis [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 217/2.
Few compeirit except a few commissionaris of burrowis 1587 Conv. Burghs I. 274.
Eduerd Galbraith, commysseoner for Edinburgh 1590 Ib. 341.
James Hackat, commessioner 1614 Ib. II. 465.
The … commissionars dissolves this present conventione 1654 Ib. III. 370.
The saidis sex commissioneris of burrowis that ver appointed to meit with the heritouris … of East Louthiane 1690 Ib. IV. 112.
The great negligence of the commissionars of the royall borrowes sent to … conventions in not attending the dyets prescryved by them(c) 1552 Conv. Burghs I. .
Dauid Brynton, commissinar of Laneark Ib. 2; etc.
James Rig, commissinar of Dumfries 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 214.
To convene the morn with the commissinaris of borrowis to consult vpoun the weill of the hail borrowis Ib. 217. 1587 Conv. Burghs I. 274.
Oliuer Pebles, commissenor of Perth 1588 Ib. 293.
Walter Cowane, commessener for Sterling