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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unio(u)n, n. Also: unio(u)ne, unyon, unyoune, unyown(e, unyuon, unjion, wnioun, wnyon, -owne. [Late ME and e.m.E. union (1432-50), vnyon (c1450), F. union, L. ūniōn-.]

1. Agreement, unanimity. Also, an instance of this.(1) 14.. Acts I *89/2.
In tym to cum be na maner of wys ony vthir gyld thai presume to procure bot vnyon had of all the membris til a hed 1545 Douglas Corr. 160.
We have commoned togither, and is determyned all in oone of unyon to serve the Kynges majeste a1585 Maitland in Maitl. Q. 46/111.
Send ws gud men to gang betwein The lordis to mak vnioun That peace may in this land be sein(2) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2571.
So ȝe, with one vnioun, Cryis … gar cast that faltour in the fyre

b. Internal unity. 1456 Hay II 104/32.
Be the faith and leautee of men, all congregaciounis of men and unioun of citeis and wallit townis is manetenyt and uphaldyn

2. The uniting of two or more persons, peoples or things (to, with, of one another) to form a new entity; the state of being so united. Also, an instance of such a union.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 1497.
In a generalle lettyre he Off God and mannys unyown [C. wnyowne, W. vnyoune] … wrate c1420 Wynt. vii 411.
The barnetyme off That get that Malcolme had off Saynt Margret Togyddyr drw full unyowne [C. wnyon, W. vnysoun] [sc. of Saxons and Scots] To pas syne in successyowne 1490 Irland Mir. I 99/3.
The concepcioune of the persoune … may be tane for the infusioune and vnioune of the saule to the body 1490 Irland Mir. I 139/29.
He vnyt and junyt that humanite in saule and body in vnioune ypostatice to the blist Sone of God eternale a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1388.
Thoucht cruell Ded had … Off saule and body lowsit the vnioun 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1775 (Ch.).
[Rex] With ȝow [sc. correction] I sall confirme ane vnioun, And at ȝour counsall stand ay firme and stabill 1559 Reg. Privy S. MS XXX 5b.
Brevelie introducing the unioun of the partis of orisoun in Greik and Latene speichis with thair accidentis c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 292.
Quhat is the cause the Kirk Papisticall Can neuer haue this unioun spirituall Of Christ Jesus trewlie in thame ingrauit? 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
What we once annex to the crowne of Christs Kingdome, the vnion is so indissoluble that neyther prescription of tyme [etc.] … can giue a regresse 1653 Binning Wks. (1841) 8.
There was an union made already in his first moulding … a twofold union between Adam and God 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 672.
All the knots of the neerest and most immediat relations betuixt husband and wives, parents and children [etc.] … are but running knots; there is but ane harden knot … fast and strongelie drawen … that blest knot of unione … betuixt the belever and Christ(2) 1490 Irland Mir. III 97/38.
Thai ar now twa vniounis ane of the Sone of God with His proper humanite … the secund is of Jhesu the Sone of God with all the Kyrk and Cristianite

b. More loosely, the action of joining together out of mutual interest or for a common purpose. Only attrib. with band. 1647 Canongate Hammermen in Bk. Old Edinb. C. XX 97.
The brethren having often desired that the union band might be read in their presence

c. Unioun-box, a box designed for the safekeeping of money or documents belonging to a guild or craft union. 1636 Laurie Hist. Free Masonry (App. iv) 448.
That the haill maisters of evirie companie sall convein … quarterlie or at the least once in the yeir for electioun of their wardenes or ovirsmen and box maister and takeing compt of thair vnioun boxis chairges and dischairges thairof

3. The action of combining or annexing lands, etc.; specif. the uniting of non-contiguous lands into one holding; a holding so united. Cf. Une v. l. b. A charter of lands united as above. 1471 Acts II 99/2.
That thar be na vnyownys nor annexacionis maid … to bischoprikis [etc.] … of ony benifice … bot at the said benfice that war vnyit be put agayne to the first fundacione to the place that thai war takyn fra and at sic reule … as thai war att of before the tym of the vnyowne 1503 Acts II 246/1.
Anent landis & baronys quhilk lyis in sindrj scherefdomez that ar annext or vnit in ane halding or barony that nochtwithstanding the said annexation or vnion that the persons inhabitantis tha said annext landis sall abid law befor the scheref [etc.] … quhar the saidis landis annext lyis c1575 Balfour Pract. 433.
Gif ane inquest happinis to serve ony persoun as air to ony landis unite and annexit to uther landis, na chartour or infeftment of unioun schawin to thame … the retour, service, and all that followis thairupon, is of nane avail; because all unioun and annexatioun of landis is hurtful and prejudicial to the King, and thairfoir sould on na wayis be admittit, except the samin be … sufficientlie provin 1578 Reg. Privy C. II 693.
All giftis or confirmationis of … erectionis of baroniis, unionis or burghis in barony 1627 Rep. Parishes 214.
The separatioune theirof fra the said kirk of Mochrum and vnioune theirof to the said kirk of Kirkinner be the commissioners … appoynted for satling the estaitis of kirkis a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 33.
To devyd or unit kirks quher it should be found expedient, and efter tryall … to ratifie such unions or dismembrings of parrochins as have bein mad be the former comissioners a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 75.
All uniones of benefices mad be the Pope efter the yeir of God 1466 ar declared to be null a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 237, 238.
Landis haldin of divers superiors cannot be united, becaus they cannot be comprehended within one seaseing. Bot whosoever hes lands disponed to himself with ane union may dispoun them, or severall parcells of them, to any wther with ane union 1681 Stair Inst. ii iii § 44.
Union is the conjunction, or incorporation of lands or tenements, lying discontigue, or several kinds, unto one tenement, that one seasin may suffice for them allb. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 117.
For quhite walx and reid walx for seling of the forfaltouris and unionis maid in the last parliament

4. Of Scotland and England: The action of uniting the realms (in friendship or in some more formal political relationship). b. specif. In the Treaty of Union of 1707. 1547–8 Corr. M. Lorraine 214.
Thocht the wysdome off Ingland be extemit greitt, thay gane nocht the rycht way to mak unuon off thyr twa realmis 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 328.
Furth setting of the trew word of God & the unioun of thir realmes in greter amite nor in tymes by past hes bein a1578 Pitsc. II 2/25.
Thairfor this nobill king [sc. Henry VIII] sett his wott … to bring the tuo realmes togither in wnioun and allayance 1604 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 59.
Feiring that the brunt thairof should breid ane mislyking of the vnion amanges the commouns 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 513.
Knowing your majesteis earnist dispositioun to perfyte that unioun [of Scotland & England] 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
The commission anent the unioun of the two kingdomes 1652 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 66 (see Tender n. b). 1652 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 74.
Such of them as ar of the Scotts nation [to] declare thair consent to the union as afoirsaid respectivelyb. 1707 Acts XI 406/1.
Act ratifying and approving the Treaty of Union of the two kingdoms of Scotland and England