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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

DEFENCES, n.pl. Sc. law: the pleading of the defender in an action. In Eng. only in sing.: “the plural signifies, presumably, that the defender may rely on more legal answers than one” (Sc. 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 27).Sc. 1754 J. Erskine Princ. Law Scot. iv. i. 39:
Defences are pleas offered by a defender for eliding an action. They are either dilatory, which do not enter into the cause itself . . . or peremptory, which entirely cut off the pursuer's right of action.Sc. 1823 Scots Mag. (Aug.) 222:
A summons is called in Court, when the defender's agent is allowed eight days to state defences.Sc. 1950 Scotsman (6 Jan.):
They would recall Lord Sorn's interlocutor, allow defences to be received, and remit to the Lord Ordinary.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 125:
Sae leally I'll propone defences, As get ye flung for my expenses.Ayr. 1787 Burns Unco Guid (Cent. ed.) ii.:
I for their thoughtless, careless sakes Would here propone defences.