Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
JURANT, adj., n. Sc. Hist.
I. adj. Lit. taking an oath, swearing, hist. applied to those of the clergy, Presbyterian or Episcopalian, who took one or other of the oaths of abjuration in favour of William and Mary, Anne or the House of Hanover. Those who refused were described as non-jurant.Sc. 1712 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1842) I. 358:
The Presbytery of G[lasgow] last week discharged all their members to baptize a child in one of their parishes where is a Jurant brother, whose parent refuseth to baptize with his minister.Sc. 1766 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 573:
Being now regularly served by a nonjurant minister, many are falling off from the established church.
II. n. One who took such an oath. Hence non-jurant, one who refused. Cf. Juror.Sc. 1712 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1842) I. 351:
Should non-jurant brethren invite any jurants, in some congregations there would not one of the people take a token, nor an elder serve at table.Sc. 1714 Ib. 557:
When members were talking of Jurants and Non-Jurants, the Commissioner rose up, and desired them to refrain from these terms, for they were not legal, and in the sense of law, all were looked upon as one.Sc. 1770 Bishop Forbes Journals (1886) 295:
The Fruit of my Labours at Inverness may, perhaps, fall into the Hands of a Jurant.Sc. 1839 J. MacKerrow Hist. Secession Ch. I. 8:
It ought to be recorded to the praise of Queen Anne's Government, that they respected the conscientious scruples of the non-jurants.
