Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BLUDWITE, BLOOD-WIT, n.
1. A fine paid for shedding blood. Given as obs. by N.E.D., E.D.D. and Marw. N.E.D. (which gives the correct spelling as -wite [wəit]) says that in Old English law this fine was paid to the aldormann or king in addition to the were-gild paid to the family of the person killed. Arch.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley (1817) xlviii.:
You are aware the blood-wit was made up to your ain satisfaction.Mearns 1892 D. G. Barron Court Book of Urie, Intro. vii.:
[His charter extended to] the punishment of petty thefts and the exaction of blud-wites.Edb. 1928 D. Robertson and M. Wood Castle and Town 207:
The assessment of blood-wits is found frequently in the minutes of the Council.
2. A quarrel resulting in the effusion of blood.Sc. 1754 J. Erskine Princ. Law Scot. 42:
He [a Baron] might, by our later practice, have judged . . . in riots and bloodwits.
