Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡PERDUELLION, n. Sc. Law: hostility against the state or government, treason (Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 730, 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 64). Hist.Sc. 1797 D. Hume Punishment of Crimes II. 406:
Treason, or as our lawyers, after the example of the Roman, sometimes style it, Laese Majesty or Perduellion.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xii.:
There's no a callant that e'er carried a pock wi' a process in't, but will tell you that perduellion is the warst and maist virulent kind of treason.
