Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†CONVENERY, Conveenery, n. A body met for official purposes, an assembly, convention, specif. the Convener's Court consisting of the Conveners of the various Trade Incorporations in a town and presided over by the Deacon Convener (see Deacon, n.1, and Convener). Also attrib. with meeting.Sc. 1781 Edb. Advertiser (14 Dec.):
The Convenery of the Trades of Edinburgh.Sc. 1831 Blackwood's Mag. XXIX. 988:
We . . . hereby offer a reward of a complete set of Maga to him who shall produce such a refutation as shall seem even plausible to a Constituent Convenery assembled to decide on the comparative power and glory of the two “political literatures.”Sc. 1891 J. Colston Incorp. Trades Edb. xliii.:
In many of the Burghs, there existed a central body among the Trades, called the Convenery, or Convener's Court. As a rule the body consisted of the Deacons of the various Incorporations, who elected out of their number a preses, who used to be called the Deacon-Warden, but is now designated the Deacon-Convener or rather Convener of Trades.Per. 1836 G. Penny Traditions 202:
The Guild Court consists of the Dean, president, the Provost, the three merchant Bailies, four Guild Brethren elected by the Guildry, and two tradesmen from the Court of Convenery.Edb. 1797 Edb. Council Reg. in Edb. Guilds and Crafts (Burgh Recs. Soc. 1909) 214:
The minute of the conveenery.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet 147:
A circular mahogany table, inlaid in the top with some quaint representation of a convenery meeting.
