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.
Quotation dates: 1389-1570, 1622-1626
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Excusatioun, -acioun, n. Also: -atyown(e, -atyone, -ation(e, -acion(e. [ME. excusacioun, -acion (14th c.), L. excūsātio.] An excuse.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints vii. 252.
For that thai men of the towne Suld hafe nan excusacione Of the gret sowne [= sin], that thai don had 1389 Charter (Reg. H.).
In the qwilk lettre thare was na giving to borch bot excusacons delators, the qwilk the forsaid Alan thocht perillous 1456 Hay I. 88/2.
To the excusacioun of this worthy knycht, we mon say sum thing 1456 Ib. 245/9.
He may fynd … maneris till undo him, and syne fynd ane excusacioun and a caus quhy 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 9.
The actioune and cause … is … continuit to the said day … but ony langer dilay or excusacione 1533 Boece xi. xvi. 437 b.
Thow has na place of excusacioun, to rub this faleȝe fra thi self apoun vtheris(b) c1420 Wynt. iv. 798.
Than swa sall gret oppynyownys Mak for ws excusatyownys c1420 Ib. vi. 2132.
Makduff than sayd … That that excusatyowne wes in wayne 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 296/2.
The conclusioun of this lytill buk and the excusatioun of the translatour c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxx. 30.
Cum on thairfoir annone, All sircumstance put by and excusationis 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 137/23.
I vil nocht gyf eyris to thy excusations 1570 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 656/1.
My Lord of Lechester … desyris na better nor ane wreiting of the quenis maiestie … to be his excusatioun 1622-6 Bisset I. 83/25.
Misknawlege is ane maner … of excusatioun to mony men of thair fault
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"Excusatioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/excusatioun>
