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.
DUTY, n. Sc. law: a payment made to a feudal superior; hence applied to the rent of a feu or leasehold tenement, whether perpetual or for a term of years, feu-duty (see Feu). Also used attrib. with eggs, hens, etc., when payment of part of the rent was made in kind (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., duty hens). For phr. mail(l)s and duties, see Mail.Sc. 1740 Private Deed (per Fif.1):
For the yearly duty underwritten in Tack and assedation letts. . . .Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xi.:
They hae been ill-advised in the matter of the duty-eggs, and butter, I winna deny that.
Comb.: duty-multure, “a yearly duty paid to the landlord in money or grain whether the tenant ground his corn at the mill or not” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).
[O.Sc. has duty, an obligatory service or payment, from 1446.]
