Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DEVOLUTION, n. Sc. law: the reference made by arbiters who differ in opinion to an oversman, who may ordain further debate before deciding (Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 61). Also phr. clause of devolution, “a clause devolving some office, obligation, or duty, on a party in a certain event, e.g. on the failure of another to perform” (Ib. 186; 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 19), gen. used with reference to the articles of roup in a judicial sale or in deeds of submission.
