Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Constrie, Constry, n. Also: constre(e. [e.m.E. constry, -stre, ME. constery, constory, reduced forms of consistorie.] = Consistory. Also attrib. with clerk, law. 1480 Acta Conc. 54/1.
The accioun … is dependand in the law before the said officiale in the constre 1540 Lynd. Sat. Procl. 45.
Ȝe preistis hes grit prerogatyvis, … Wald God I had that liberty, that I micht pairt als weill as ȝe, Withowt the constry law c1552 Id. Mon. 5762.
Officialis, with thare constry clerkis, Sall mak compt of thare wrangus werkis a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. ci. 94.
Syne perfyte iustice we may se In courtis, constrie, and in sessioun 1652 Lamont Diary 55.
[The comissars] satte ordinarlie att St Androus, in the Old Colledge church, (the place where the constree did sitt formerlie)