Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡CASUALTY, CASUALITY, n. Sc. law: a casual charge or payment exacted by a superior from a vassal in feudal times in certain contingencies (see third quot.). “The term is becoming obsolete as the result of legislation providing for the commutation of such charges” (Abd.16 1938).
Also applied to parochial fees paid for baptisms, marriages, church fines, etc., freq. paid to the schoolmaster as Session Clerk.Sc. c.1704 Sir K. Mackenzie in Earls of Cromartie (ed. Fraser 1876) II. 414:
He calls them foolls for allowing me the casualities of their fish-boats.Sc. 1876 J. Grant Burgh Schools Scot. ii. xiv.:
Another casualty due to the master was “bent silver” [q.v.], so called after the old custom of laying bent or rushes on earthen floors, for keeping them warm.Sc. 1929 Glasgow Herald (27 Dec.) 3/6:
The Feudal Casualties Act passed in 1914 extinguishes what are called feudal casualties, that is to say, the fines which a superior was entitled to exact from his vassal on the transmission of land either by death, gift, sale, or otherwise.Sc. 1929 St Andrews Citizen (16 Feb.) 1/2:
For sale an attractive house . . . Feu-duty £20. Casualties commuted.Ags. 1728 (per Fif.1):
Readiest Maills Farmes Profites Dutys and Casualtys.Lnk. 1717 Minutes J.P.s Lnk. (S.H.S. 1931) 177:
With all fees, profits, casualities, priviledges and immunities whatsomever.Ayr. 1774 in A. M'Kay Hist. of Kilmarnock (1880) App. III. 365:
To exact, uplift, and receive the customs and casualties, etc.
