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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Discharge, n. Also: dischairge, -chearge. [ME. (c 1460) from Discharge,v., or ad. OF. descharge.]

1. An acquittance or receipt for payments received or due.(a) 1507 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 709.
To this my letter of discharge … I hawe appensit my seill 1509 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 338.
The sowme of ane hundreth pundis … to be pait … with ane sufficient discharge to the resaving thairof 1530 Grant Chart. 268.
To get the said Iames ane sufficient discharge … of the byrunnyn malis 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 871.
Of all his teyndis, both meill and beir, I have discharges for a yeir 1598 Rec. Marischal Coll. I. 101.
Alledging he might haive gottin … a discharge of the whole anvel from my lord Marschal 1614 Highland P. III. 168.
Anent the dischearge craved … of this ȝeires rent of Ila, and the lyk dischearge to be gevin be him to the tennentes(b) 1591 Conv. Burghs I. 360.
To gif … to Iohne Symsone … ane dischairge of the sowme … to be payit be him to Iohne Guthrie 1671 Annandale Corr. 311.
I have sentt yow the key of my kistt to looke the tuo shottles in it for some dischairges I payed of anuelrentts

b. An account of payments made. 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 280.
The auditors of comptis … hes … fund. the charge and discharge being seine, … that the compter restis awing to the towne the sowme of [etc.]

2. The act of discharging a person from liabiiity or obligation; the fact of being discharged. 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 243/1.
A letter of remit and discharge … of all actioun or crime that may be imput to thaim 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 196.
Quhilk [payment] … salbe thankfullie allowit till him in his comptis, keipand this precept for his dischairge and warrand 1552 Ib. II. 171.
Sic thing as was gaderit to the lytill pece of calsay … before my discharge

3. The performance of a charge or task. 1599 Montgomery Mem. 243.
Archibald Barklay … behaifit himself verie honestlie, and cairfullie for the discharge of sic thingis … committit to him

4. A prohibition or prohibitive order. 1570 Leslie 253.
The discharge of ligges or bandis to be taikin or gevin frome one subject to ane uther 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 40b.
Ane discharge and prohibition given be the king for certaine causes cassis and annullis the perambulation