Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SUBJECT, n., v. Also subjec (m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 115), subjeck (Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 13; Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae French 28), subjick (Abd. 1914 J. Leatham Daavit 54); soobjeck (Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1856) III. 129). See P.L.D. § 63.2. [Sc. n. ′sʌbdʒɪk, v. sʌb′dʒɛk]
†1. A piece of property, freq. in pl. one's estate or effects (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 222, 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1722 W. Forbes Institutes I. ii. 82:
The Fruits . . . which a careful Man might have reaped from the Subject possessed.n.Sc. 1784 D. Sage Mem. Domest. (1889) 55:
I hereby oblige myself to bequeath to her all the subjects and effects belonging to me.Sc. 1799 W. Mitchell Scotticisms 76:
All his subjects were sold to pay his debts.Sc. 1896 W. K. Morton Manual 62:
The owner can put the thing or subject to any use he pleases.
2. Specif. and most commonly as a Sc. Law term: a piece of heritable property, as a piece of land, a house or the like (Sc. 1825 Jam., 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 86).Sc. 1717 Acts of Sederunt (25 June):
Competition upon one and the same Subject and Estate.Sc. 1769 Erskine Principles ii. ix. § 29:
The deceased died infeft in the subjects contained in the brief.Fif. 1794 R. Beatson Agric. Fife 4:
These villages derive their rights and privileges from a subject, for payment of a yearly quit-rent, or feu-duty, according to the extent and quantity of ground.Sc. 1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon and Gael I. vi.:
A relict, who has the care of a rich minor, and is left a good subject herself.Sc. 1863 St Andrews Gaz. (17 Jan.):
The subjects in question . . . are to the north of North Street, whilst all the vennel subjects are to the south of South Street.Sc. 1891 J. Craigie Conveyancing 272:
Where the subjects let consist of mines or minerals.Sc. 1928 Robertson and Wood Castle & Town 112:
The titles in question relate to some twenty separate subjects.Sc. 1939 St Andrews Cit. (18 March) 12:
The Heritable Subjects consisting of (1) Shop, (2) Dwelling-House above the Shop.Sc. 1969 Scotsman (6 Aug.) 12:
For Sale, Former Church Subjects with planning permission for office development.
