Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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COMMISSIONER, n. Sc. usages.

1. “An estate-agent, steward” (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁶ 1936). The more common term is Factor, q.v.Sc. 1884 Queen Victoria More Leaves 202:
Mr Loch's father was the commissioner for the late Duke . . . and the present Mr Loch . . . is commissioner to the present Duke.Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 202:
Extensive land estates are generally placed under the management of a commissioner or commissioners.

2. Phrases: (1) commissioner of justiciary, a member of the Court of Justiciary, the supreme criminal tribunal of Scotland; (2) commissioner of supply, “a member of a body in each county which exercised various of the functions of the county council before the establishment of the latter in 1889” (Abd.¹⁶); (3) Commissioner's Walk, the procession of the Lord High Commissioner through the streets of Edinburgh.(1) Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 629:
By the Criminal Procedure Act, 1887 . . . all the Senators of the College of Justice are Lords Commissioners of Justiciary.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xi.:
If ye stir up yon byke ye'll hae commissioners of justiciary and prickers and the haill clamjamphrie.(2) Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 203:
The valuation roll of every county is annually made up by the Commissioners of Supply, for which purpose they are empowered to appoint assessors.Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 235:
The act 20 and 21 Vict. c. 72, authorises commissioners of supply to establish and maintain an efficient constabulary within their respective counties.(3) Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xiii.:
The Commissioner's Walk in Embro was to be dune awa wi'. I mind o' seein't aince whan I was a halflin laddie, an' a bonny show I thocht it, wi' the sodgers, an' the cooncillor bodies in their red cloaks an' cockit hats, an' the muckle guns firin frae the Castle.

3. (1) A member of the Scottish Parliament up to its demise in 1707. Hist. The Sovereign was represented by the Lord High Commissioner who ratified statutes in his name. As the chief director of Government policy in Scot. he was often referred to simply as ' the Commissioner '. See also Lord, n., 2. Combs. (13) for this and the next. Sc. 1700 Acts Parl. Scot. X. 185, 191: 
The King's Commission to James Duke of Queensberry to be His Majesties high Commissioner to this Session of Parliament. . . . To call the freeholders of the said Shire together on Tuesday next to the effect they may choise a Commissioner to the said Parliament in place of the said David Bruce.Sc. 1706 G. Lockhart Memoirs (1817) 160: 
The Queen's letter and the Commissioner's and Chancellor's speeches consisted chiefly in setting forth the advantages that would accrue to the nation by being united with England.Sc. 1905 C. S. Terry Sc. Parliament 71, 81: 
The Act signed by the Chancellor was, when called for, carried to the High Commissioner, its title was read out by the Clerk Register, and thereupon it received the royal assent [by being touched with the sceptre]. . . . The Lords of Session, the Commissioners of Shires and Burghs, and privileged attenders of Parliament.

(2) A member of the General Assembly of any of the Presbyterian Churches in Scotland. The (Lord) High Commissioner, distinct from the official in (1) above, is appointed annually as the Crown's representative at the Assembly of the Church of Scotland as the established Church. Sc. 1700 Acts Gen. Assembly 3, 21: 
James Viscount of Seafield . . . to be His Majestie's High Commissioner, and Representative, in this National Assembly. Recommended to all Presbytries, to send in an Account of their Judgmeent, and Opinion thereanent, with their Commissioners to the General Assembly.Sc. 1723 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) III. 47: 
The Assembly met at ten of the clock, and till three of the clock they were upon the case of the Commissioner from the College of Edinburgh.Sc. 1888 J. Rankin Handbk. Ch. Scot. 343: 
Each Presbytery annually elects commissioners or representatives to the General Assembly-the number being proportioned to the size of the Presbytery.Sc. 1947 Scotland (Meikle) 127: 
The sitting of the Assembly is attended by a Lord High Commissioner representing the King, who lives during these few days in the Palace of Holyroodhouse.