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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.

Luf(e)tenand, Luiftenand, Luvetennand, n. Also: luff(e)-, luif(f)-, luifi-, louif-, lov(e), lowe- and -ten(n)and(e, -end, (-tanand,) -ten(n)ant, -ent. [OF. Lueftenant (1374), var. of lue-, leu-, lieutenant Lieutenand n.: cf. also Levetenand and Lutenand.].

1. A vicegerent; a viceroy, governor, regent, or the holder of a commission of lieutenantry. = Levetenand n. 1 a, Lieutenand n. 1 a.Also lord-luftennand, q.v. under Lord.(a) 1375 Barb. xiv. 139 (E).
Schyr Richard of Clar That in all Irland lufftenande [C. luftenend] Was off the king off Ingland c1420 Wynt. ii. 352.
Than made he Joseph off hys land Stewarde hale and luftenand 1449 Acts II. 35/1.
The Kingis … decretis … decretyt be the luftennande and the thre estatis a1500 Bk. Chess 1110.
And for ane king may nocht be aye present In euery place to schaw thaim his entent. Neidfull it isto haf his luftennend 1499 Fam. Rose 170.
George Erll off Huntly luftanand tyll our souerane lord the Kyng c1515 Asl. MS. I. 238/5.
The Erll of Huntlie … displayit the kingis banere and said it was the kingis actioun and he was his luftennend Ib. 239/1.
Luftennent 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 536.
Sum tyme the realme was reulit be regentis, Sum tyme lufetenentis, ledaris of the law a1578 Pitsc. II. 107/23.
The Earle of Hartfurd … , principall gydar and lufetennent of King Edwart 1584 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 304.
[George, Earl of Huntly,] luftenent of the North c1650 Spalding I. 255.
The charge of the Scottis commissioneris aganes Canterbury and luftennand of Ireland(b) 15.. Clar. v. 2867.
Convoyit him to sea his luiftenand 1568 Douglas Chart. 265.
My lord meisteir Mairschall, luiftennent to our souerane lord withine the boundis of Mernes a1578 Pitsc. II. 214/7.
The Erle of Huntlie … causit the cuntrie to obey him as gennerall luiftennand in thais partis c1615 Chron. Kings .
Cadallus … luifftennent to the King of Scotland 1615 Highland P. III. 184.
Thei knilit all befoir the luiftenant … and told thei wer cum … to rander them self(c) 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 91.
Lord Ruthuen, his Hienes louiftennent(d) 1530 James V in Wemyss Corr. III. 2.
Till ansuere ws and oure luvetennentis quhen we haif ado a1578 Pitsc. II. 267/15, 17, 18.
Thair was ane gret combat in the north land … for the said Adame [Gordon] was luvtennand in all the north in place of his broder the erle of Huntlie as principall luvetennand to the quein and the said lord Forbus was maid luvtennand for the kingis grace and his regent(e) 1528 Colt. Rebus Alban. 155.
Be the avise of Colin Erle of Ergile his louetennent in tha pairtis 15.. Clar. iii. 314.
Foure louetennents … gart he make, To put his folkis in rewle and governance 1615 Highland P. III. 202.
He left the rebellis and came to the louetenent

b. fig. 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 385.
He maid nature to be his luff tenande To forge the werkis he has tan on hand 1490 Irland Mir. I. 59/24.
In the fyrst creacioune … he maid the man … his gret balȝe, his louetennand jn his realme 1563-72 Ferg. Tracts 16.
Their new forged religion in the … dongeon of Sathan's workehous, and practised be … his members and luftennents hear in earth

2. The sovereign's deputy or second in command in charge of an army, hence the commander of an army; also, the commandant of a garrison.Also Lufetenand-general(l n. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 137.
Quhen Cesius Nasica, luftennent to Didius [L. per hunc Aulus Didius … bellum gerebat], wes interit in Brigance with a strang army Ib. II. 197.
In tyme of weere that thai may be thi [sc. the King's] luffetennent and invincibill campionis Ib. 265. a1538 Abell 112.
Henrik Teddir fled in France bot with help of King Charlis and his lufetennand Barnard Stewart he wan Ingland a1578 Pitsc. I. 73 h.
Hou George Douglas was huiftennent to Scottis men Ib. 235 h. Ib. 403 h.
Hou the King maid Olipher Sincler luftennand [v.r. luffetennent] owir his armie 1580–1 Lanark B. Rec. 75.
All persones to be a redenes to pas with the Kingis grace or his luftennent on sax dayis of new warning 1650 Lamont Diary 16.
The louetennant of the castell

b. Comb. in lovetennent governor. 1685 Bk. O. Edinb. C. XI. 69.
Major Androw Whyte lovetennent governor of the Castle of Edr.

3. An army officer, next in rank below captain.(1) 1601 Glasg. B. Rec. I. 218.
The four quarter maisteris to be delt in tua quarteris at … wapinschawing with anseinyeis and the commanders to have luifitennentis Ib. 220. 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. 14.
For twa lowetenents & ensignes 1646 Laing MSS. I. 219.
The lovtenant 1649 Lamont Diary 7.
All these [officers] that werre above louetennants werre to come before the commission 1671 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 30 Dec.
William Younge … to be their lovetennent … to the tounes companie of militia(2) 1653–4 Peebles B. Rec. II. 196.
Ane chapine of sek that the proveist and bailyeis was with Luftenant Butcher 1664 Rothesay B. Rec. 84.
Which sowme was geawin to Lovetennant Fraser in part payment of the money cravit be Proveist Cunighame for cess