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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lieutenand, Leutenant, n. Also: lyeu-, lieeu-, lewand -ten(n)and(e, -ant(e, -ent(e, -teinent, and (leuctenent). [ME. and e.m.E. lieutenant (1377), lyeutenaunt (1480), OF. lieu-, leu-, liutenant (13–14th c.), f. lieu place and tenant holding: cf. Locumtenant. Cf. also Levetenand, Luf(e)tenand and Lutenand.]On the possible spelling ambiguity between this type and that with the labial consonant, see note to Levetenand n.

1. An officer wielding the delegated authority of a superior as his deputy or vicegerent. a. Chiefly, a deputy of the sovereign wielding virtually sovereign authority, as viceroy, regent, governor, or as the holder of a commission of lieutenantry (Lieutenandry n. 1). Also Lord-Lieutenand n.(a) 1398 Acts I. 210/2.
Sen it is wel … kennyt that oure lorde the Kyng for seknes … may nocht travail … it is sene to the consail maste expedient that the duc of Rothesay be the Kyngis lieutenande 1438 Ib. II. 32/1.
It is concordyt and ordanyt … be the lyeutenand and the consall haldin at Edinburgh 1481 Ib. 132/2.
That ilk lord … deliuer the persons that dois the skaith to the King or his lieutennantis or wardanis 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 36.
My said Lord Chancellare lyeutennent in the north partis of this realme 1552 Ib. 136.
Lord Huntlie, Scheref and Lieeutennent in they boundis 1558-66 Knox II. 50.
Ane … contracte to be maid betwix his Majesties lieutenent or depute of Ireland … and the said Erlle 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 509.
The troublis occurring in [1565] … movit hir Majestie to mak diverse nobill men lieutenentis in sundrie partis of this realm for the mair reddie convening of the subjectis to hir Hienes service, and repressing of all enormiteis 1568 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS. III lviii.
As concerning the commisioun ye desire ws to send … we knaw nocht in quhat maner ye desyre the same, for we vnderstand to haif alreddy ane general lieutennant 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 34.
Thai that slayis sa cruellie kingis and thair lieutenentis 1631 Grant Chart. 227.
James, Erle of Murray, our lieutenant and justice in the North(b) 1438 Acts II. 32/1.
Geyff the spoulȝheouris … dissobeyis to the schirray … the schirra sall blaw out on thaim … and denunc thaim as sic rebellouris to the leutenent [1449, Lorde luftennande 34/2]. 1545 Douglas Corr. 158.
I fand the Guverner and lordis nocht … at the schowing off the imbassadors commission, nor artickillis to ȝour magestes leuctenent a1578 Pitsc. I. 180/13.
The King of Ingland … caussit the Duik of Glossester his great lewtennent to pas in Scottland

b. The deputy of a subject. 1487 Paisley B. Rec. 24.
To oure Justice Clerk, crounaris, and to thair lieutennantis and deputis, … greting 1500 Acta Conc. II. 408.
Maister Cristofer and Maister Randulp, brether, deputis and lieutennandis til the Lord Dacre 1528 Douglas Corr. 127.
I [Earl of Angus] caus my lieuteinentis and deputis meit and mak gude redres 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 516.
Dischargeand the said Erll and his collegis, justices and lieutenentis in that part within the boundis foirsaidis … of all … proceeding aganis the said James [etc.]

c. Rendering L. proprætor. 1533 Boece iii. xiii. 111.
Arvirag and the lieutenent Planctius war certifijt how contrare him and Romanis conspirit war the Icenis and Lobwnys

d. fig. and transf. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 536.
Fortitude … Is lieutenand all wretchis to comfort c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4268.
To Christ he [the Pope] is greit lewtennand, In holy Peteris sait sittand 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 36.
The puyr … God committis to your handis as to his lieutenentis 1590-1 Bruce Serm. 314.
And the ground must be exonered of this iniquitie where the lieutenant whom God hath placed overseeth it

e. Attrib. with court. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 118.
I [Earl of Huntly] … hes affixit ane lieutennent court in Abirdene 1598 Acts IV. 172/1.
To compeir befoir him … in his lieutennent wardane and iustice courtis

2. The sovereign's deputy or second in command in charge of a military force; a military commandant. Also general-lieutenant, and see Lieutenant-generale b. 1456 Hay I. 276/4.
And it war a thing done before the prince or his leutenant or constable or marschall 1483 Acts II. 164/2.
[To] warne his liegis … that thai … be redy apon aucht dais warning tocum to the King or his lieutennant … for the defens of the realme 1531 Bell. Boece I. 118.
Didius, the Romane legate, send ane herald to Cesius, his leutenand 1542 Montgomery Mem. 127.
Licence to … byde at hame fra … all … oure oistis [etc.] … to be maid be ws or oure lieutennentis within oure realme or vtouth 1557 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 58/2.
Johnne, Erl of Athole, lieutennent for the tyme 1563 Ib. 388/1.
Hir baner thair being displayit and hir lieutennent being on the feildis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 51.
The Frenchemen not past all away, for Monsieur Dosie was left lieutennent to thame and Dutche men vnto hir graces returning a1578 Pitsc. I. 153/16.
George Douglas Earle of Angus … was maid lewtennent be the Quene and consall to pas witht the haill body of the realme in defence of the borderis 1582 Coll. Aberd. & B. 353.
All oure oistis … and assembleis … maid or to be maid be ws, oure lieutennentis, wardenis, admirallis, coronellis, capitaneis or vtheris 1596 Cal. Sc. P. XII. 291.
Sir William Stewart of Howston, knight, is chosen lieutenant for the King to pas to the Isles of Scotland 1644 Hume Douglas 33.
Lord Montjoy, then Generall Lieutenant for the Queene [Elizabeth] 1644 Baillie II. 206.
For General-Lieutenant Baylie

3. An army officer, next in rank below captain. 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII. 293.
[To the] capitane, his ansenye, lieutennant and officiaris of band 1546 Reg. Privy S. III. 329/1.
Ane lettir maid to David Nogen, lieutennent of the futeband 1557–8 Treas. Acc. X. 340.
To the lieutennent of the saidis l horsmen … xl li. 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV. 315.
Lieutenants, cornettis, and utheris memberis of thair cumpanyes 1611 Scrymgeour Invent. (S.R.S.) 55.
Obligatioun maid be Alexander Weir, lewtennent to Capitane David Murray