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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Accident, n. and a. Also: accedent, acsedant, axsident. [ME. (c 1375), OF. accident, L. accident-, accidens.]

A. n. 1. A fortuitous occurrence or event; chance.1456 Hay II. 109/23 (thyne accident of malady); 113/20 (men failis be accidente). c1515 Asl. MS. I. 299/13 (ane memoriale with principale accidentis). 1549 Compl. 37/6 (til eschaip euyl accidentis). 1570 Leslie 261 (by sic lyke ourthrowes and accedentis). 1582 Wemyss Corr. 77 (I am heir vpoun accident). 1643 Fam. Rose 335 (by axsident).

2. A casual sum. 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 258.
His full compt … bath of properteis and accidentis pertening to tham 1524 Stirling B. Rec. 19.
All and syndry acsedant pertenyn to the said alter 1545 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 216.
All maner of proffetis, emolumentis, and accidentis … that ma pertene thairto 1553 Dundee B. Laws 16.
[Freemen] sall pay … the soume of x lib. with thaire accidents … c1650 Spalding I. 264.
The Erll … , for all his court and accidentis, left no gryte meinis … behind him

3. An unessential attribute. 1513 Doug. x. Prol. 23.
Thy maist supreme indiuisibill substans … ressauys nane accident 1581 Burne Disput. 36 b, etc.
The exteriour forme and accidentis of the breid

B. adj. Accidental, casual.1515 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 351 (to prouide sum accident thing). 1537 Reg. Episc. Aberd. 41 (be ony vdir accident way). 1585 Buccleuch Mun. II. 240 (the accident slaughter).