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.

Fermance, -ans, n. [OF. fermance. Cf. Firmance.]

1. Close keeping, confinement, custody. 1493 Acta Aud. 181/1.
Dauid priour of Inchmaholmo grantit that he haid in fermance and keping Dene Patrik Mentethe … as ordiner to him 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 314/2.
Adam Rutherfurd … wes put in oure castell of Edinburgh in fermance and presoun 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 199.
The consell ordanis thair chartour keyst … to be put in suir fermans for keping in secreit manir 1594 Misc. Spald. C. II. 128.
Thow … being apprehendit … vas put in fermance, quhill thow suld haue bene tryit 1613 Forbes Comm. Rev. (1614) 211.
The sureness is cleered in the ... apprehender, and manner of fermance

2. An enclosure. 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 176.
Within fermans and parkis cloys of palys The bustuus bukkis rakis furth on raw