Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Document, n. [e.m.E. (1503) and OF. document, L. documentum.]

1. Instruction, teaching. 1456 Hay II. 75/27.
The buke callit the Secrete of Secretis of Arestotil ordanyt for document and teching of governaunce of princis a1500 Henr. Fab. 1761.
Despysing thus her helthsum document The foullis … tuke thair flicht anone a1500 Bernardus 3.
Sum [books] maide for law of God in document, And othir sum for varldly regiment a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 403.
Off his discipillis and his document Annas speirit him richt deligent 1533 Boece ix. viii. 304 b.
To all mortall creaturis gevin perpetuale document how litill in warldly felicite suld be confidit 1535 Stewart 22806.
Onto ws all it ma be document, That changit is ȝour greit nobilitie To fals deceptioun

2. A piece of instruction; a lesson; an admonition or warning. 1456 Hay II. 38/17.
The fault of gude documentis and techingis gerris unworthy men be reboytit and repellit Ib. 78/26.
Thai geve oft tymes thair documentis in secre wordis c1460 Thewis Gud Women 213.
For thi ȝunge lordis ar put to cur, Quhill wysdome cum thaim be natur, On ellis throw documentis, ore age 1490 Irland Mir. I. 13/17.
Thi hienes suld tak tent to this document 1549 Compl. 47/16.
It sal declair the elevatione of the polis, … and diuerse vthir documentis and demonstrations mathematikis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4382.
Christ … left, in tyll his Testament, Mony ane deuote document a1578 Pitsc. II. 209/34.
This may be … knawin to all kingis … to gif thame ane document or ane lessone that they fall not from God 1661 Nicoll Diary 351.
Lat this be ane document to all prophaneris of the Saboth

3. Proof, evidence, testimony; a fact, etc., serving as proof. 1456 Hay I. 218/26.
All men of gude understanding may wele knaw that but documentis all this is nocht Ib. II. 155/8.
A generale reule of documentis and takenis of gude condiciounis of baillies 1459 Peebles B. Rec. 132.
Be verray document of thaim that herd and saw the begyning of that bargan the gud men … fand [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II. 229.
It might have bene sufficient document to al pepil of … sorow that fallis be civill weris Id. Livy II. 94/29.
The tothir thre … war ane notabill document, that pluralite of capitanis ar vnproffittabill in batell

b. Evidence set down in writing; a written statement or record of a legal matter. 1469 Acts II. 95/1.
The partij to quham the obligatione is maid … sall folow the said obliga … & tak document therupone 1477 Stirlings of Keir 250.
With al and syndry … actis, instrumentis, writtis, documentis and munimentis that we haff 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxxvii.
Ane act of the Lordis … gevin thairupon be … actentik write and document 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 18.
He wald nocht … scheu na probatioune nore document tharupone 1582 Reg. Privy C. I. 196.
To … produce sik … documentis as thai will use for verefying of thair content in the said mater 1609 St. A. Baxter Bks. 73.
Quharvpon the said positor askit document fra me, notar vndir vrettin