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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Murmuratio(u)n, Murmurac(i)oun(e, n. Also: murmeracioune, murmir-, murmwratio(u)n. [ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E. murmuracion, -ation, F. murmuration, L. murmurātio.]

1. a. The bruiting or noising abroad of rumours. b. Discontent or disapproval, as being bruited among the populace, an army, etc. c. plur. Grumblings of the populace. 1456 Hay II. 61/37.
Thair honoure, quhilk, quhen thai had gert thame tyne, throu murmuracioune and envious langage of bakbyting c1460 Thewis Wysmen 376.
Tutland and tratland in the toune, ay makand murmeracioune 1531 Bell. Boece II. 206.
The nobillis … thocht thairfore the King unworthy to regne above thame. This murmuration was not only in the ilis bot in sindry parts of the realme Id. Livy II. 32/24.
Als sone as the consull herd this murmuratioun amang the army 1533 Boece ix. viii. 305.
It was suspectit that Eugenye secretlie was in caus of the kingis murthare. Be murmuracioun hereof be the pepill, the quene … fled 1546 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 551.
And schew of the murmur of the odius slauchtir of … my lord cardinale … for eschewing of sic murmiratioun that he may be haldin and repute sic ane barroun … as he hes bene in all tymes bygane 1583 Colville Lett. 35.
No murmwration about it 1592 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 260.
Thirdlie thair sall arryse ane greit murmuratioun amangis the peopil 1653 Binning Wks. 205.
The murmurations of the people in the wilderness

2. The expression of discontent by particular persons; complaint, grumbling. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 68/19.
In murmuracoun aganis God formale or wertuall nocht obeyand to His commandementis 1565 Instit. Ct. Sess. 7 a.
That … thai thankfullie resaue the same but ony murmuratioun at that tyme 1600 Colville Palinode 32.
If the most inward … seruants of God in ages past … did … without murmuratioun or mutinerie obey idolatrous … princes c1650 Spalding I. 319. 1674 Brown Suppl. Dict. Decis. III. 470.
Condemning murmuratioun of the advocates or parties against the interlocutors c1680 Mackenzie Affairs 283.
Albeit all murmuration is prohibit to advocates

3. plur. Muttered remarks or asides, conversation in low tones. 1661-88 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 775.
They most not stand near the witnesses … nor interrupt them by murmurations or susurrings