Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1827-1829, 1903
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
†EX CAPITE LECTI, n.phr. Sc. law: Lat. equivalent of (up)on the head of deathbed (see Deathbed). Obs. since 1871.Sc. 1827 Scott Chrons. Canongate, Croftangry i.:
A question of death-bed, a question of death-bed, doctor — a reduction ex capite lecti — Withering against Wilibus — about the morbus sonticus.Sc. 1829 P. Halkerston Terms and Phrases 131:
Where a person on death-bed disposes or burdens his estate, to the prejudice of his heir, it will be competent to the heir to reduce the death-bed deed ex capite lecti.Sc. 1903 Erskine Principles iii. viii. 46–49:
In 1871 it was enacted that no deed made thereafter is liable to challenge or reduction ex capite lecti.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Ex Capite Lecti n. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ex_capite_lecti>
