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.
Quotation dates: 1470-1609
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Consuetud(e, Conswetud(e, n. Also: -suetuid. [ME. consuetude (Wyclif), -swetude, OF. consuetude, L. consuētūdo.]
1. Custom, habit, habitual practice. a1500 Henr. Fab. 774.
Sum bene also throw consuetude and ryte Uincust with carnall sensualitie a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 289.
The secund natur is callit conswetud, Quhilk lichtly levis nocht the ald vsage 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2523.
God dois hait … ane riche man in consuetude to lie 1560 Ib. 4575.
Thairof sen I want conswetude 1573 Satirical Poems xlii. 494.
He … cannot do thame all gude For laik of daylie consuetude 1596 Dalr. I. 77/8.
Eftir lang consuetude togither, … thay began to take mair curage
b. With the, his (etc.), or a. a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 335.
Men may wyn tryvmphe be the consuetud Of wertuos werkis c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 87 b/2.
To bed I went, as is my consuetud 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 4345.
As his custome wes and conswetude 1596 Dalr. I. 100/17.
He eit thame rawe, and with sik a consuetud of eiting [etc.]
2. General custom or observance. 1470 Lennox Mun. 80.
All … thingis … that to the office … of lau or consuetude is knavin to partene 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 393/2.
Havand thairfor thair fee as wes consuetude and use to be gevin of befor 1523 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 217.
Gif thai brek les, to pay na thing, as vse and consuietude hes bene 1533 Bell. Livy I. 298/29.
Quhy the thing (that was sa mony ȝeris afore vnhantit and out of consuetude) was brocht agane in vse 1535 Stewart 41460.
He tuik purpois … To clame the croun be law of consuetude c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2116.
Be consuetude than come ane law 1606 Melrose R. Rec. I. 27.
That thai pas … fra the said mylne contraire to consuetuid and rycht
b. The general or established custom of a country, community, etc., serving as a rule or standard of action. 1475 Reg. Cupar A. I. 203.
With pastur for sa mony katel … , as consuetud is of the toun 1476 Acts Lords Auditors 51/2.
He sal … paye to the said Johne the avale of his mariage efter the vsse and consuetude of the Realme 1505 Lanark B. Rec. 14.
The saed balye … gaef heritabyll stat … efter the ws and consuetud of burcht 1531 Bell. Boece I. 95.
Nouthir the lawis, nor the consuetude of Britane, maid dirogation thairto 1542 Annandale Corr. 2.
Conforme to the said auld lovabill vse and consuetude of our realme 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 7309.
All cled vp efter the conswetude Of his countrie 1562-3 Winȝet l. 97/1.
By the consuetude of al Christiane princis vseit to thare subditis 1596 Dalr. I. 33/29.
It is … walled about, by the consuetude of vthir tounis with ws 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 134.
They … are punished be ane ignominious buriell … be the common conswetude of this realme
c. A general custom or observance. a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2117.
Ane conswetud thai maid … That quha sa had a dreme to reid [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 64.
Chryst gif sic ane consuetude war in this kith haldin! 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. iii.
Deploring … recent and evill conswetudis brocht in this realme 1533 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 63.
According to the vsis and consuetudis of grete townis … of vthir realmes c1575 Balfour Pract. 42.
Thay sweir … that thay sall keip the lawis and consuetudes of the burgh 1600 Criminal Trials II. i. 118.
It is knawin to be ane inveterat consuetude of this realme [etc.] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 37.
Ane Earle, or any man allegeand him to haue the liberties or consuetudes of ane Earle
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"Consuetud n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/consuetude>
