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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LEESHENCE, n., v. Also lees(c)hance, leechence, leeshans, -en(s), -ins; lee(s)cence, leesence, leecense, leesense (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai). Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. licence, specif. in the Scottish Church, of the permission granted to a divinity student by a Presbytery after examination to preach and become a probationer available for a call to a ministerial charge, corresp. to Eng. holy orders. See P.L.D. § 45. Ppl.adj. leeshen(ce)t, licent (Ags., Per. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.). [′liʃəns, ′lisəns]Sc. 1725 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) III. 230:
In England there is scarce any tryall befor licensing; and in the country, after a young man has studyed a while, a Minister invites him to his pulpite, and that is all the license they have. Yet they are turning a little more strict this way in England, and are coming to a kind of licensing, but very feu tryalls go before it.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 39:
Wight o' the north! diviner great! But leeshins me wi' pow elate.Sc. 1819 A. Balfour Campbell I. 27:
Now, say that the laddie's colleged, and leecenced to preach, what's he to do till he get a kirk?Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 196:
An', maybe, ye hae used a leeshance Wi' rules laid doun by learned Grecians.Abd. 1864 St. Andrews Gazette (6 Feb.):
Oh, yer nea leeshanst, an fu muckle better 'll ye be o' yer leeshans, though you had it? Will ye preach ony better?Gall. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 58:
Though he wus a regularly leeshense't minister, he had never been place't.Abd. 1928 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (20 Sept.) 6:
It maun be a gey keep ulp a motor larry for ye hae a big leeshens for the macheen.