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.
Quotation dates: 1641-1698
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Litigious, a. [ME. and e.m.E. litigious, litygyous, letigeus etc., contentious (1382), disputable (1520), disputable at law (c 1555), pertaining to litigation (1589), fond of litigation (1622), F. litigieux, L. lītigiōsus.] a.Disputable at law, subject to litigation, concerning which legal action is pending (and therefore incapable of being alienated). b. Legal (plea), (action) at law. c. Of persons: Litigious, give to legal disputes. —a. 1641 Acts V. 389/2.
He cannot be ane of the lordis of sessioune becaus he hes … loist his place by buying litigious landis 1681 Stair Inst. iii. i. § 21. 1681 Ib. § 32, Ib. ii. § 21.
If inhibition be used or legal diligence that makes the matter litigiousb. 1680 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs IV. 19.
The Duke of Hamiltoun … pretends that all livering of goods, … aught to be at Burrowstounes, … and hes … commenced a litigious pley against the toun of Lithgowc. 1698 Glasgow B. Rec. IV. 267.
Party throw the litigious and malicious humor of some of the … comburgesses, there have been processes intented … by them against their fellow burgesses
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"Litigious adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/litigious>
