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.
Quotation dates: 1482-1626
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Bastardry, n. Also: bastardrye, -rie. [Northern ME. bastardrye (1483), but rare, the usual Eng. form being bastardy (1486), AF. bastardie (1292).] Illegitimacy of birth.Usually as entitling the crown to escheat of property on the death of a bastard owner. a1500 Henr. Fab. 880.
Bellerophont, that beist of bastardrie 1482 Acts Lords Auditors 98/1.
The breif of the sammyn … quhar the bastardry of the folowar was obiekit 1493 Acts II. 236/2.
Ony heretage … that was lauchtfully cumin in our handis be bastardry, or ony vtherwayis siclyke 1504 Treasurer's Accounts II. 430.
To Johne Coupar, messingeir, to pas to distrenȝe the schiref of Drumfreis … for ane eschet of bastardry quhilk hed ane legitimatioun 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 229/1.
The eschete of … the landis and gudis of umquhile schir Lucas Curry, … bastard, pertenand to the kingis hienes be resoun of bastardry 1508 Ib. 254/1.
The gyft of the eschete gudis of bastardry of umquhile Johne Robertoun, … quhilk deit bastard but lauchful ayre 1542 Ib. II. 738/2.
The gift of all gudis … quhilkis pertenit to Thomas Douglas … and now pertenyng to our soverane lord be resoun of escheit of bastardry, beand unlegitimat 1574 Inverness B. Rec. I. 236.
Martyne Waus … producit for his intres ane gift of bastardrye optenit be the said Martyne … of the bastardrye of wmquhill Schir Johne Waus 1619 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 430.
To warrand … the foirsaid aucht merkland … saiff fra all wardis, releves, … bastardries, … and fra all utheris clames 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 254.
Haveing … rycht to the saidis landis … as air of provisioun … or as haveing rycht thairto be bastardrie, last air, or vtherwayes
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"Bastardry n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bastardry>
