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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pensionar, -er, n. (also a.). Also: pencion-, penchion-, pention-, penteon- and -are. [e.m.E. and late ME. pensener (1429–30), pensyoner (? c 1450), pensionar (1481–2), -er (1487), pencyoner (a 1548), etc., AF. pensionner, OF. pensionnier (1365 in Godef.), F. pensionnaire (pencionnaire, 1397 in Hatz.-Darm.), med. L. pensionarius, payer (c 1204), recipient of a pension (1336).] A pensioner, pensionary.

1. a. One in receipt of a regular payment or allowance from another; one in the pay of another, a hireling; a dependent. 1532 Reg. Cupar A. I. 312.
And that for aduocatioun and procuratioun to be maid be him … in all … our actionis and causis aganis quhatsumeuyr personis, his pensionaris and kynnismen allanerly excepit 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. lxiii.
Procurator, pensionar bayth to my lord and cheptour to be requirit to procur in the samyn 1559–60 Misc. Spald. C. V. iii.
To the king and queenis gracis pensioneris of the few meall of the tounis watteris and landis as efter followis … the beidmen in Ald Abirdene … the Erll of Craiffurd [etc.] 1558-66 Knox I. 67.
Many of his minȝeonis war pensionaris to preastis a1578 Pitsc. I. 404/29.
Money of thame [sc. the courtiers] … were the bischopis men and pensionaris 1595 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 61.
Thair is ane ordour presentlie to be tane anent the paiment of his majesty's rentis and it will be perrillous to mak paiment to ony pentionaris of any pairt thairof quhill [etc.] 1637 Glasgow Trades House 189.
Item givin to Dauid Wilsone, Johne Pollock and Johne Wyllie the three ordinar penchioners equali amongist thame 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 84 (see Pensio(u)n n. 1 (1)).

b. spec. A soldier serving for pay, a mercenary soldier. 1542 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 30.
Diuers utheris our vnclis pensioneris & capitanis 1549 Compl. 166/14.
Ȝe ar be cum sodiours & pensionaris to ȝour enemeis a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 224. 1617 Misc. New Spald. C. I. 117.
Liwetenent to his Ma. pensionaris

c. The recipient of a ‘pension’ (Pensio(u)n n. 2) from an ecclesiastical benefice; a beneficed person. Also adj. in vicar-pensionar, vicarage pensionare (cf. Pensionary a.).(1) 1500 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I. 218.
Maister Andro Liel thesaurer of Aberdeine and pensioner of Brechine 1509 Wigtownshire Chart. 190.
Patrick pensioner of Quhitherne 1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 236.
The pencionar of the Ilis part of the said taxt 1539–41 Ib. 268.
The rest of the pentionaris part of Inchmohomo Ib. 291.
For the kirkis thair pertening to the pentionar of the Ilys for execution … upon the said prior and pentionar 1545 Reg. Privy S. III. 224/1.
Maister David Bonar, pentionar of Pembride 1556 Liber Calchou 482.
Be deliuerance maid to the fiw pensionaris of Lesmahago … ilkane of the brethir and pensionaris takkand [etc.] 1556–7 Comm. Univ. II. (Glasg.) 235. 1562 Inverness Rec. I. 79.
Schir William Baldoun pentionar of Innernes and confermit be ane reuerent fadyr in God 1578 Reg. Privy C. III. 22.
Gif ony beneficit man or pensionare sai happin to be slayne … the narrest qualifiit persoun of his kin sal have the presentatioun and provisioun of his benefice and gift of his pensioun 1579 Ib. 200.
Maister George Buquhannane, pensionar of Corsragwell, his majesteis preceptor 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 55.
Johne Watsoun, pentioner of Melrose 1630 T. Thomson Memor. Old Extent 191 n.
The haill fewaris of land, taksmen of teindis and pensioners of the said lordship of Torphichen(2) adj. 1563 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 414/1.
The gift of the vicarage pensionare of the parroche kirk of Balmaclellane 1581 Reg. Privy C. III. 422.]
[Parson of Eglischame and vicar pensioner of Kilmarnok

2. A ‘pensionary’ or leading municipal magistrate of a city in the Low Countries. = MDu. pensionarijs, e.m.E. pensioner (1652), pensionarie (1587), and Pensionary n.² 1612 Conv. Burghs II. 364.
The toun of Campheir sall be astrictet to caus thair pensionar assist and concur thairwith be his presence and travail 1613 Ib. 386.
Maister Enoch Pottey pensioner of the said toun [of Campvere]

3. One who pays tribute to another, a tributary. 1596 Dalr. I. 209 marg.
The Britonis ar maid pensioneris and custimeris to the Scottis and Peychtes Ib. 210/29.
The Britanis quha now x ȝeiris had bene pensioneris [L. vectigales]

4. One who lives en pension with another, a paying guest, boarder. 1665-76 Lauder Jrnl. 29.
A letter … to Mr. Daillé with whom I entred pensionar about 8 dayes after I had bein in Poictiers