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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.

Es(e)ment, Eisment, n. Also: esemend, hesement, eysment, easment. [ME. esment, esement (Chaucer), eysement, OF. aisement. Cf. Esiament, Aisiament, Aisment.]

1. A material convenience or advantage, esp. in connexion with the occupation of land or houses.Usually coupled with synonymous terms, esp. commoditeis, fredomis, or profittis. In later use denoting especially an opening for entrance, air, or light.(a) 1396 Wemyss Chart. II. 23.
Wyd al pertenans, commoditeis, fredomys and esementys 1417 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 249.
With all and sindry fredomis, commoditeis, & esementis, & richtwise pertinentis … til the forsaide landis … pertenand 1422 Stirlings of Keir 208.
With al and syndry othyr fredomys, comoditheis, hesementis, and thair rychtwyse pertenence qwhatsumeuer thai be 1443 Reg. Cambuskenneth 126.
The said abbot … makand … ane chymnay of stane, and to the abbottis syde esement, as it sall like to the said venerabill fader 1490 Foulis Chart. (Reg. H.) 4 Dec.
Landdis … with all proffitis, fredomis, esemendis, and rychttuis pertenens pertenande to the saide lande(b) 1449 Reg. Great S. 70/1.
With al fredomys, commodities, esmentis and richtwis pertinentis 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 182.
Our landis of Balmyle with pertenens, profitis and esmentis as tha war wnt to brouk 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 400/2.
To big … forestaris towart the hie strete … for entre and esmentis to his land and tenement(c) c 1456 Edinb. B. Rec. MS. (Reg. H.) 2.
Ane wyndow & ane oo in the gavile of the said lordis land & the vther eismentis that he has tharintil 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 188.
Tha sal gife twa akrys of land fre til our warandar of our kunynȝare, with eysmentis as efferis 1529 M. Works Acc. I. 6 b.
For mwilds to the maister mason for founding of durris and eismentis abone the woltis 1540 Reg. Privy S. II. 515.
To haif foirstairis and turngressis … of sic lenth and breid as thai sall think expedient for entre and eismentis to the said foirland and tenement 1588 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 61.
In … altering of the stane wall of the said poirt … and making his windois and eismentis thairin(d) 1639 Thanes of Cawdor 284.
Withe ane easment to ewerie sewerall chalmer

b. Anything serving for personal convenience or comfort. 1456 Hay I. 174/8.
Gif … he be but esmentis of his persoun sik as nature askis Ib. II. 144/7.
He suld occupy him in syk delicious esementis and culand spicis quhill he war culit at all ese a1500 Rauf C. 82.
For nouther hes thow had of me fyre, drink, nor meit, Nor nane vther eismentis for trauellouris behuse 1535 Stewart 3135.
Meit and drink, fyre, claithis and easment, That neidfull war 1569 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 81.
Ane cauld fast hous … quhair was na fyre nor eisment

2. The rendering or enjoyment of ease or convenience to or by persons. 1478 Acta Aud. 79/1.
[3 l. 8 s.] aucht to him for mett and drink … and x merkis for esement of houshalde of iiij ȝeris bigain 1588 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 61.
That the said Duncan … maid the same [port] waiker and thynnar … to serue his awin commoditie and eisment 1597 Elgin Rec. II. 59.
To reserve the loft for the baillies, consale, and elderis and easment of strangeris c1650 Spalding II. 188.
He also tirred the laterans in the colledge, whereby the studentis had not sic naturall eisment as befoir

3. Agreement, concord. 1524 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIV. 44.
Sua that thai … be at eisment with your grace