A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Province, Prowince, -ynce, n. [ME and e.m.E. prouince (Manning), -ynce, -ynse, F. province (13th c. in Godef.), L. prōvincia an official duty, a charge, a province, of uncertain ulterior origin.]
1. A subject nation or territory; spec. a province of Imperial Rome. Also fig.a1400 Leg S. xxxiii 37.
Sa hapnyt hyme [to cume] perchase In-to the prowince of Lyby 1456 Hay I 107/22.
All the provincis tht the haly [kirk] was wount to jois … as … Naples quhilk haldis of the Pape in propertee of subjectioun c1515 Asl. MS I 153/9.
That he mycht knaw and be expart baith of the provincis and nacionis and solempne townis 1533 Boece 231.
Thay suld mak nane irrupcioun in the Romane provincis c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. clv 46.
For quha him selfe can not gyde nor avance Quhy sould ane province do on him depend? c1590 Fowler II 78/32.
Beholding him self lord and maister over a new province unlyke to his ancient dominiounfig. 1533 Bell. Livy I 5/17.
I will nathing schew of thare rewyne For that war nocht the way … To dant the province quhilk I tuke on hand
b. Only attrib.: Applied to Provence, one of the earliest Roman provinces (cf. 18th c. Eng. Provence oil (1765). —1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 311.
Oyle called Civile, Province, … or Minorca oyle
2. A component administrative unit of a state or federation; spec., one of the provinces of Ancient Greece.c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2112.
The King Thelaphus that was Lord of that ilk province a1500 Henr. Orph. 83 (Asl.).
In this province [Bann. provynce] ȝe sall be king & lord a1538 Abell 63a.
King Kenneth chengit the namys of the prowincis of Pichtis c1575 Balfour Pract. 365.
Payment … may not be provin be witnessis, bot be writ, except the samin be maid in sic a province and part of the countrey in the quhilk sic payment … usis not commounlie to be maid be writ, bot be word and faith of bodie
3. An ecclesiastical province.
a. The district within the jurisdiction of an archbishop or metropolitan; also b. that within the jurisdiction of a Presbyterian synod.a. c1420 Wynt. vii 1613.
Rogere … Off Yhork … mad that coronatyown Agayne all … resown As in ane othir provynce [C. prowynce] set … it suld hawe bene 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 262.
Sufficient levingis … salbe … assignit to thame be the archebischop, bischop, superintendent, or commissionar of every diocie or province 1580 Ib. III 277.
The diocie or province of Louthianeb. 1578 Second Bk. Disc. in Bk. Univ. Kirk II 499.
Provinciall Assembleis we call lauchfull conventionis of the pastouris, doctouris and elderis of the prouince 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 23.
Ther was chosen tuo of the gentrie for ilk province a1650 Row 290.
The Province of Fyffe did never choise him moderator of their Provinciall Assemblie, though he was often on the leetts 1649 Alyth Kirk S. in Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 74.
Especiallie against malignancie as being the sinne that abowndes in the province 1677 Inverness Presb. 77.
[The elders] answered that such as were popish enclyned were in the province of Ross
4. A part of the world; a country or region; a district.c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii 53.
In euery province, land, and regioun Proclamit is thi name of excellence 1509–10 Edinb. B. Rec. I 129. a1538 Abell 1a.
Ane … narratioune is maire sickir & attentik quhen … the place and prouince ar schawin c1590 Fowler II 75/35.
The countryes … freschlye conqueshed … ar ather of ane province and speache with the patrimonial lands of the conqereour or no 1596 Dalr. I 22/5.
Ane prouince named Laudiane … throuch the plentifulnes of the ground [etc.] … may weil be called cheif
