Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Natioun, Nacioun, n. Also: natioune, -youn(e, -yown(e, -iune, -ion(e, -eoune; nacioune, nacoun, nacion(e,-yon, -eoun; nasioun. [ME. nacion, -iun (Cursor M.), -yon, -ioun, nation, OF. nacion (F. nation), L. nātio.]

1. A nation, in usual uses.When preceded by an appellative adj., often without article.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii. 408.
The Saxonys and the Scottys blude In natyownys twa before than yhud Ib. iii. 232, v. 1940, vi. 2344; etc. c1475 Wall. v. 514. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxix. 26.
Ane man of ony natioun 1535 Stewart 30709.
Neid is till ws with sum natioun to mak Band and colleg c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 68.
Thair heuinlie constellatiounis Did me support in monie natiounis c1552 Id. Mon. 28.
Prince of preistis in this natioun 1551 Hamilton Cat. 200.
In the middis of ane evil natioun 1567 G. Ball. 72.
In all cuntrie and natioun Ib. 116. 1570–1 Reg. Privy S. VI. 205. 1571 Sat. P. xxv. 7.
Unto this puir natiune a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cv. 23.
Cry toung I leid throw all this natioun a1578 Pitsc. I. 68/24; etc. 1584 Acts III. 325/2.
For releif of … wedowis … and vtheris of the natioun lamit [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 132/8. Ib. 81/24, 82/3.
This leauge or band being maid betueine the King and the hail natione 1618 Crim. Trials III. 451, 1653 Nicoll Diary 118, 1653 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 136.
Natioun 1654 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 54.
The haill people of the natione(b) 1375 Barb. x. 331.
And of thair awne nacioun Thai maid a constabill thaim to leid c1420 Wynt. i. 1098 (C). 1456 Hay I. 209/30.
All the naciouns that ar in this warld, bathe cristyn and hethin Ib. 212/32.
The quhilk emperour … put doun all that nacioun of Alanis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 9/13.
In all pepile, realme and nacioune a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 411.
The false nacione c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 26.
That evir our naceoun helpit in thare neyd 1533 Boece viii. x. 271.
That invios nacioun 1533 Bell. Livy I. 56/16.
Be hortacioun of thare native & kyndelie nacioun a 1540 Misc. Bann. C. III. 35.
The nacion of Scottis 1587 Buchan Cl. IV. 134.
At times whole shyppes full, to the wonderynge of foren nacyons(c) 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III. 207.
[The] greitest scedusueus knaif contrary the relegeoun & the King that is [of our] nasioun(2) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3557.
The Frankis natyowne war … Rewardyt the mare largely c1515 Asl. MS. I. 197/8.
The defaltis of our Scottis nacoun a1578 Pitsc. (1814) xxii.
Of the Irisch natione 1596 Dalr. I. 267/18.
S. Andro, vpon quhais protectioune the Scotis natioune dependis 1612 Conv. Burghs II. 362. 1685 Dunlop P. III. 13.
[The] Cuila and Cussila nations of Indians(3) 1375 Barb. i. 193.
Schyrreffys … maid he [Edward I] … of Inglis nation c1420 Wynt. iv. 2018.
Bath Duche and Frankys natyownys Ib. viii. 2737.
Fra Wek … Till Mullyrryssnwk … He put in Inglis natyoun Ib. ix. 1402 (C).
Al tyme to Scottis nacion He had a special affecion Ib. 2599 (St. A.). a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvii. 7.
In to the handis of Inglis natioun(4) 1456 Hay I. 187/33.
[To] be in tribute under cristyn nacioun 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 126.
Gevin to vncouth natioun To ioyse ȝour habitatioun

b. Nationality. a1400 Leg. S. xiv. 2.
Chiefly be, of (Scottis etc.) natioun. Sancte Lucas as of nacion Cyrus was c1420 Wynt. v. 3022.
On hys modyr halff a Brettowne He wes be kynd off natyowne Ib. vi. 973, ii. 805, v. 1041, vi. 2467.
A Frankys man be natyowne c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 29.
We of Scottis natioun … Forȝett we nevir … To pray for him a1538 Abell 10*a.
Rychard of Sant Victor nacyon of Scottis schenyt in science 1581 Burne Disput. 96 b.
Jonet ane ingleis voman of natione, borne in heiche Almanie

c. Also attrib. as adj. — 1633 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 85.
The eist cuntreyis whair the natioun commodities of this kingdome hes leist vent, such as yrne [etc.]

2. One of the privileged bodies of foreign nationals trading in Continental towns.Particularly, the natioun of Scotland, the Scottis natioun, our or the natioun, the Scottish merchants (? and seamen) collectively. Chiefly in reference to the staple ports of the Low Countries. 1500 Acta Conc. II. 464.
Procurator … til Andro Halyburtoune, conservatour of the privilegis of the nacione of Scotland 1529 Conv. Burghs I. 508.
The said Maister Jhone Campbell sall desyir the haill nacioun of Scotland to be frie in all the empirouris landis … for anis pament of custum for thar guidis in the toun quhar tha by and sell Ib. 509.
That tharfor the said conservatour of the nacioun with awis of the men of guid caus the said personis to mak tham self honest clais 1578 Ib. 53.
For establishing of the stapill for the Scottis natioun in Flandaris Ib. 59.
Ony wariance betuix ony suppost of oure natioun and ane of the towne 1613 Ib. II. 389.
Thair salbe provydit to the said natioun ane sufficient hous that sall serue thame for ane consergarie … quhair all the merchandis and marineris cumming from Scotland may ludge [etc.] Ib.
To sell any beir or wyne to burgessis or ony vtheris not being of the natioun Ib. 391.
For the love … that the said magistrat beires to the Scottis natioun, thai obleis thame to caus the said natioun injoy all these priviledges … quhilkis the Inglish natioun presentlie injoyes at Middilburgh 1626 Ib. III. 228. 1628 Stirling B. Rec. I. 162.
Lait conservatour in the Law Countreis for the Scotis natioun 1638 Conv. Burghs II. 576.
The inventar of the wreatis concerning the priviledges granted to the Scotis natione in Fraunce

3. a. ? One of the ‘nations’ or bodies of students from a particular region, country or group of countries, in the University of Paris.But perh. merely = sense 1 b. 1456 Hay I. 221/17.
As thus the pape and the kingis of Fraunce has privilegit the scolaris to be seur, of quhat nacioun that ever thai be, that studyis in the universitee of Paris

b. Applied to the (normally four) regional groups into which the ‘supposts’ of the Universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen were divided.On the ‘nations’ in St. Andrews University, see also St. A. Univ. Rec. ix f.(1) c 1480 Acta Rectorum (St. A. Univ. Mun.) MS.
Statutum et ordinatum fuerat sub magistro Laurencio quondam rectore primo quod ammodo essent quatuor nationes 1492 St. A. Univ. Rec. 189, 190.
Alexander Ros, nationis Angu siae, … Johannes Carlel, nationis Britanniae … ; Henricus Pantour, nationis Laudoniae … ; Malcolmus Arnot, nationis Albaniae 1533 Ib. 23 i.
Nationis Fifae(2) 1452 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II. 60.
Super divisione suppositorum universitatis per quatuor naciones electi fuerunt quatuor intrantes pro electione novi rectoris 1453 Ib. I. 6. 1482 Ib. II. 6.
Divisio suppositorum per quatuor naciones. Statuit … quod prima natio Clidisdalie in se contineat [etc.]. Nacio Thevidalie includat [etc.]. … Nacio Albanie continebit [etc.]. Nacio Rosay includet [etc.] c 1600 Ib. 43.
Suffragiis quatuor nationum videlicet Transforthianae cum agro Stirlinensi, Laudonianae, Glottianae, Silurianae(3) 1529–31 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 98.
Quatuor procuratores nationum 1593 Marischal Coll. Rec. I. 57.
Eligatur [rector] per omnes academiæ suppositos divisos in quatuor nationes, ita ut Abredonensis diocesis … in duas nationes secetur. Marriensem et Buchanensem [etc.] 1634 Officers & Graduates Aberd. Univ. (N. Sp. C. 11) 8.
Mr. Robert Ogilvie [etc.] … procuratores nationum, … [subscribed] Mr. Ro. Ogilvie pro^r Angusiensis [etc.] 1664 Marischal Coll. Rec. II. 11.
The colledge being fullie conveened and divided in four nationes, the hie classe in the name of the natione of Buchane, the thrid classe in the name of the natione Marre, the second classe in the name of the natione of Angus, and the first classe in the name of the natione of Murray, did … choose … procurators for electing of ane rector(4) 1560 Bk. Disc. 217.
And everie natioun … shall nominat ane of the said thre [to be rector]

4. After Biblical use: plur., The heathen nations, the Gentiles. 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. B. iv.
Quhairin he conferris him self with the idolis of the natiounis 1591 Rollock Wks. II. 316.
Come to the custom of the nations

5. In senses reflecting the etymological meaning of L. nātio. a. ? Birth; ? native disposition. b. A breed, race or tribe. Also c. pejoratively. 1375 Barb. iv. 719.
Than is thar na certane demyng Or gif thai men [sc. astrologers] … Knaw allmennis nacioune And als the constillacioune a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 269.
Judas … wrocht rycht vnworthely That Him nocht warnit of ewil nacioun Id. Flyting 411.
Homage to Edward Langschankis maid thy kyn, In Dunbar thai ressauit him the false nacione c1552 Lynd. Mon. 448.
Adam brocht in this natioun … dampnatioun