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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Quite-clame,) Quyt(e)-, Quit-clame, n. Also: qwyt-, quiete-, quhiit-; qwit-, quhit- and -clam, -claim(e, -cleme, cleyme. [Late ME and e.m.E. quitclayme (1450), quyte clayme (1473), AF quiteclame (1304), f. Quite-clamev.]

1. The action of renouncing a claim; also, a deed recording such a renunciation.Also const. of the claim given up, pl. in sing. sense and in letter(is) of quitcleme.(1) 1429 Discharge in Argyll Mun. MS 20 March.
The quhilkis renunciacon resignacon quytecleme and giffing up of al richt and clame of the landis forsaide 1429 (1507) Reg. Episc. Brechin II 157.
Yhe takkand quhit clamys of the Dene of Brechyn of the said payment 1475 Misc. Spald. C. IV 10.
Of the said sowme of xlvj markkis acquytance and quytcleme to giff 1489 Acta Aud. 129/2.
Qwitclame 1496 Acta Conc. II 21. 1499–1500 Ib. 369.
His lauchful defesance and quitclamys of the gudis 1501 Ib. III 9. 1508 Exch. R. XIII 43.
Thai schawing the said Patrikis acquaintance and quitclame of the payment(2) 1436 Reg. Panmure II 199.
And this quitcleme to stand in na force na effect gif [etc.] 1450 Reg. Great S. 84/1.
My malis to raise and ressave, quitclemys to gif [etc.] 1474 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 528.
Quytclaimis 1493 Acta Aud. 170/1.
That George Erle of Huntle sall content & pay to William … the soume … exceptit in the quytclame & discharge gevin be the said William to the said erle 1497–8 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville) (Reg. H.).
Qwyttancis & qwytclamys to gif 1498 Acta Conc. II 258.
Quitclame 1509 Maxwell Mem. 228.
Quhiitcleyme 1512 Lennox Mun. 205.
Quytcleme 1528 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 97.
Quitclam 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 187.
He was penitent of this quieteclame and come sone eftir in Northumberland to recover the samyn 1574 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 268.
Quytclame(3) 1443 Highland P. II 178.
The said S^r Duncan sal gar the said Charlis gif his lettris of qwytcleme for hym … of the landis of Menstry … that the said Charlis … sal nevyr mak clayme in na to the landis of Menstry in tyme to cum 1452 Sc. Hist. Rev. LII 7.
I sall answere for the saide soumeze … nochtwithstanding ony letters of quitclaim given to me be our saide soverane lorde 1480 Acta Conc. I 73/2.
A letter of quitcleme of the hale soume 1501 Ib. III 75.

2. Remission, exoneration, indemnity. c1420 Wynt. vii 2055.
Off all thir poyntis evyrilkane … Rychard undyr hys gret sele As a qwyt-cleme [C. qwyt-cleyme, W. quytclame] fre and pure Be lettyre he gave in fayre tenwre And othir mony fredwmys ma 1440 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 193.
He havand til his warandice … the kingis lettres … of discharge togidder with lettres of quyteclame and remissioun for him … of al thingis done fra the day of his entre in the said castell of Dunbertane to the day of the makyng of thir presentis letres