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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lattroun, n. Also: -rune, -ron; latroun, -ron(e, lathrone; laterne, lateron(e, latterane, -ein. [Sc. variant of Lettroun n.]

1. a. A lectern in a church. b. The reader and precentor's desk in a (Scottish post-Reformation) church.a. 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 66.
xij elne burdalexander to the latrones in the kyrk of Strivelin, ilk elne iiij s. 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 364.
For skowring of the brass laterne agane Yuill, xij d. 1591 Misc. Spald. C. III. 160.
Ane great stein latroun of massie brass, within the quire … quhairin the evangell was red Ib.
Ane latron dotit and mortifeit be the communitie … to Sanct Nicholas 1631 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 37.
And the said Paull ordainit to caus chengȝie the same [bible] to the latrone of the oratorie of the said hospitall 1632 Chron. Perth 33.
[The] bischop of Murray preichit … in Sanct Jeillis Kirk, with the surples on him, and the Englishe service red at the latrone be Inglis menb. 1600 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 207.
The haill commoun lichtis and candillis of the kirk, to vit, the herssis, pulpitt, and redaris lattroun 1620 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 93.
Thair names to be affixt on the redaris lattrune in both kirkis 1636 Chron. Perth 35.
Therefter the prouest … past with the counsall to the latrone, and patt Mr Robert in possessioun of bayth the places [sc. as reader and precentor] 1698 Elgin Rec. II. 323.
Act for building six pews in the bodie of the church beginning from the west side of the latron

2. A reading- or writing-desk in a private house. 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV. 100.
To Johne Forman for ane lok to the Kingis latron that standis in the Kingis studee 1535 Ib. VI. 255.
For iiij½ elnis and ane quarter sad grene to covir the latronis in the Kingis study 1561 Edinb. Treas. Acc. MS.
Ane great four-square latterane turning on ane vice 1581 Bann. Memor. 335.
The haile cofferis, boxis or lattronis that the erle … had ony geir in keiping in, sic as writtis [etc.] … whairof the keyis was in ane letrone, and the key of that letrone was at his bage 1607 Edinb. Test. XLII. 364.
Ane kist ane coffer ane latterein 1644 Aberd. Council Lett. II. 364.
Some muskateirs and sojors hade brokin up the latrons in the clerks chamber for searching out of the saids rolls 1645 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 43.
Airship goodes … a charter kist of yron [£100], an etwa [£20], a lateron [£10], a coffer [£20] 1654 Brodie Diary 113.
For the causes and reasons contained in the paper which is in my latron 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 360.
A cabinet full of shottles. A lathrone with shottles covered with grein base 1697 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. II. 90.
In the east chamber … a writting latron and chamber box [etc.]

b. ? A schoolmaster's desk. 1700 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 331.
If parents complain on the master for correcting of their children, the master shall not be called befor the latron on that account till first the quarterly visitors [etc.]