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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Liquid, a. [L. liquidus liquid, fluid, clear, limpid etc., also clear, plain, evident: cf. ME. and e.m.E. liquid(e, liquyd in various senses of the L. word, as fluid, translucent, pure and clear etc., and F. liquide.]

1. Of sums due or appointed to be paid: Fixed in advance at a definite amount, specified exactly; judicially or authoritatively fixed or ascertained. = Liquidat ppl. a.Also Eng., 1682–1731. 1522 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIII. 18.
The lordis … anent the mailis clamit be the said master Richard … for the said … landis intromettit with be the said William and his spous … and gres mailis of the samin … ordanis becaus it is nocht liquid to call the said Williame and Janet thairfor and justice salbe ministerit as efferis 1587 Acts III. 447/1.
That the pairtie aganis quhome decreit beis gevin anent liquide sowmes befoir the lordis of sessioun sall pay to the saidis lordis tuelf pennies of euerie pund 1592 Ib. 573/2.]
[That ony debt de liquido ad liquidum instantlie verifiet be wreit or aith of the pairtie befoir the geving of decreit be admittit be all jugis a1603 Tractatus Leg. Naval. 57 b.
And failȝieing of thes moveable godes that yee compryse (so it be for ane liquid soume) ther landes and heritages 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 281.
The councill will considder what liquid and cleir soume the samyn [imposition] may be sett for 1686 Cramond Kirk S. II. 29 Aug.
It was craved … that befor their petition should be granted, a liquid soume should be condescended upon, … for buildeing of a schoole house for the use of the paroch 1681 Stair Inst. i. xviii. 6.
And therefore a liquid clear debt, though bearing no annualrent, compenseth another debt bearing annualrent Ib.
By a liquid debt is not understood a debt for which there is a decreet or quæ habet paratam executionem but it is sufficient that the debt itself is liquid Ib.
Compensation is also competent upon debts which are not liquid so soon as they become liquid, either by a liquidation of consent or by a decreet

b. Said of a written obligation which clearly specifies the amount due and constitutes it as a debt. 1697 Fountainhall Decis. I. 783.
Answered, he opponed his clear liquid bond

c. Of a penalty: Fixed by law, definite. 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. ii. 2. (1699) 13.
Extraordinary [crimes] were these wherein the law had appointed no particular punishment; ordinary crimes were such as were punishable by a liquid pain, determined by the law

2. Clear, manifest, indisputable (proof).Also e.m.E. 1610–1726. 1662 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 41.
When a writt is civilly improven before the session by a clear and liquid probation