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.
Relevancy, -ie, n. Also: -liv-. [Only Sc., f. Relevant adj., with nominal ending conformed to L. type -antia. Cf. Relevancen.] The quality or fact of being relevant, in the sense of Relevant adj.Only in legal contexts.1575–6 Reg. Privy C. II 487.
Without prejudice of the relivancy of the said allegeance 1626 Justiciary Cases I 38.
To eschew all langsum disputatioun upone the relevancie thairof a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 253.
Efter the lybell … is admmitted to probatione, ther should be no moir heard against the relevancie therof Ib. 274.
The persewar may be urgit to give his oath of calumnie upon his lybell … befoir the relevancie be discust 1635 Wodrow in Hay Geneal. 87.
My answers must not be exceptiones against the relevancie, which is nullius juris 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 122 (6 Feb.).
And the saids witnesses being taken sworne but deponing no relivancie in relatioune to the said spulȝie 1681 Stair Inst. iv xxxix § 12.
The meaning of relevancy (which is more accustomed with us than elsewhere) imports the justice of the point that is alleged to be relevant Ib.
Relevancy imports the relieving or helping the alleger
b. An objection to an action or defence on the grounds of legal incompetence.1661 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 139.
A new form, to give in peremptory defences before the discussing of relevancies Ib.
And yet relevancies were always first answered before any peremptory defences were proposed
