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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.

Legal(l, a. (and n.) Also: legell. [e.m.E. legall (? a 1500), L. lēgālis, F. légal (14th c.).]

1. Of or pertaining to law. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 327/6.
As in the ald testament ar foure maneris … of bukis, legall, historiall, sapienciale and prophetall Ib. /9.
[The] legall bukis of the law of Moyses

b. Adhering to the Mosaic or Jewish Law. 1567 G. Ball. 81.
Syne the Jowis that war legall, And Gentillis … Maid baith ane body mysticall

2. As fixed by law (as opposed to private agreement). 1662 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
Lands … all lyand as said is togither with the reversiones therof als weill legall as conventionall legall of legall and legall wpon legall tacks prorogationes and rightes of teynds of the samen

b. Chiefly legall reversioun, the term (orig. of seven, subsequently of ten and five, years) fixed by law within which heritage apprised or adjudged for debt might be redeemed: see Reversioun n. and c below. 1621 Acts IV. 610/1.
And that notwithstanding of the preceiding lawes and practike of this kingdome by the whiche the legall reversioun of comprysit landis expyrit within sevin ȝeiris efter the leiding of the comprysing a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 196.
The partie fra quhom comprysed may make ane assignation to the legall reversion 1672 Acts VIII. 93/2.
Considering the great preiudice … to trade … by the length of the legall reversion formerlie granted 1681 Stair Inst. ii. xii. § 32.
There is also a quinquennial prescription of the legal reversions of special adjudications

c. quasi-noun : short for b above. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 326.
Minors may redeem lands comprysed from them at any tyme befoir their aige of 25 yeirs compleit, albeit the legall wer expyred Ib. II. 175. 1661 Acts VII. 318/1.
And wheras the legall reversion of compriseings wes formerlie limited for seven yeeres his maiestie … is … pleased to extend the same to ten yeers … and all compriseings deduced since January 1652 yeers and wherof the legalls are expyred … shall be redeemable [etc.] 1662 Decis. Lords G. 41.
James was satisfied by his intromissions within the legal 1673 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 136.
Any infeftment the pursuer has is upon comprising only, whereof the legall is not yet expired 1680 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 431 (12 March).
[Declaring that the] legall [of the said apprising will not expire until 10 years after the decease of the said Katherine, providing always that the annualrent … be paid … but should there be three terms unpaid … the said apprising] shall run and the legall theroff expyre conforme to the daitt theroff 1683 Decis. Lords F. 35.
An action of compt and reckoning … for extinguishing a comprising as being satisfied within the years of the legal 1684 Ib. 58.
Wilson might be restricted, during the running of the legal of his apprysing 1690 Acts IX. 195/1.
To sell the lands and estates of bankrupts with consent of the debitor where there is a legall reversione competent to him or without his consent where there is no legall 1697-1707 D. Hume Accompt of Estate 31.
He raised a summonds of declarator of redemption, and I raised a counter declarator of the expiration of the legal of M^r Home's apprysing

3. Legal: as appointed by the law; constituting a legal procedure; founded upon law, legally sanctioned. 1639 Remonstrance of Nobility 12.
But to protest in a faire way, and as beseemeth duetifull subjects, is a course customeable, legall and ordinare 1662 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 237.
Because he could nott gett them removed from their lands and possessions in a legall way 1664 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 211.
In ther heretable legall rights and possessiones of the said croves 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 27 May.
Fynes Johne Edgar boatman be legall probatioun for gros injuries committed be him wpon Marie Mason 1676 Cramond Kirk S. II. 5 Mar.
Therefore the session desired him to use legall diligence and to chairge for the principall and annual rents 1676 Old Ross-shire I. 300.
You will pass from yor legell pursuite and enter in a friendlie agreement 1716 Dunkeld Presb. II. 94.
Neither is there a legal school in the said paroch because of the disaffection of the heritors