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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Politik, adj. and n. Also: poll- and -itike, -itick(e, -itic(t, -itique, -iteque, -ytic(k; -etek, -etique, -ethic; -ut(t)ick, -utict. [ME and e.m.E. polytyk (Lydgate), polletique (Caxton), politik(e, adj., also plur. as noun (Skelton), sing. as noun (1559), F. politique (14th c. as adj. in Godef.) political, L. polīticus, from the Gk.] Politic, in the usual senses and applications.

A. adj. 1. a. Having to do with the government of a state or other community, esp. in civil or secular affairs. b. Public, civil, secular. c. Pertaining to the art or science of politics.Politicke body, body politic.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. MS fol. 320.
The lif ciuile and polethic conscistis in the proporcioun of the foure cardinal vertuis 1567 Acts III 35/2.
That thai elect … tua or thre ma baronis … of gretaist experience in poletique effares 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. 15.
Contrar to the polluttick government of the said burgh and punissment of malefactors 1596 Dalr. I 10/23.
Mony noblemen and almaist all, bot cheiflie the Mersmen, thay manure justice and thay studie to politike effaires Ib. 16/23.
Ane academie … in respecte baith of philosophie and grammer and politick studie 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 78/1.
By the exemple quhairof … thay thinke … to drau the politike & ciuill gouuernement to the lyke 1600-1610 Melvill 414.
Whow kirk and relligioun may be framed to the polytic esteat of a frie monarchie 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xvi.
Not onely for a religious respect were they separated from the places of God, but in a politick conseate also … in permitting no cittie buriall 1610 in Hist. Kinloss A. xi.
The polletek surway of a kingdome on parchment a 1641 Irvine Mun. II 51.
That all inhabitantis be subject to thair magistratis in all thingis siweill and politik for the weill of the burche 1647 Douglas Bequest 25 Sept.
To the honour and glorie of God politik and temporal wealth of this burgh c1650 Spalding II 152.
England beginis to follow oure order in pollitique and church governament(2) 1604 James VI Ess. 97.
It is the king's part (as the proper phisician of his politicke body) to purge it 1669 Jus Populi 84.
Nature sayeth not that all in one iland, of one extract, or of one language, should become one politick body under one politick head

2. Of a person: a. Wise or prudent in dealing with political affairs or matters of public interest. b. Sagacious or shrewd, generally. c. Also dyslogistically: Crafty, devious. 1535 Stewart 1784.
Weill I wait him richt convenient, Plesand, perfite, politik and prudent 1548 Cal. Sc. P. I 140.
I wounder that amangis polutict rewlarris … the rameid is not bettir found 1559 Knox VI 17.
Ye shall tast of the same cuppe that pollitique hedds have dronke before you 1567 Sat. P. vi 89.
To heidis politick se ȝe geue na care Into reforming of this pure cuntrie 1568 Misc. Bann. C. I 41.
With thair jolie wittis and polytick braines, which my Lord Lindsay callis Matchvellis discipilis 1570 Leslie 160.
Like a politique prince forseing the daunger Ib. 226.
Quhilk interprice … he atchevit lyk a right politique capitane Ib. 234.
A wyse, discreit and politique ladie 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 106/3.
Ye are baith a politike & œconomike gouuernoure a1599 Rollock Wks. I 338.
He [Paul] sayis not, I go to play the pairt of ane king, or of ane politick man

d. Of a course of action, in politics or generally: Contrived with political skill, shrewd, cunning; and dyslogistically, devious, crafty, Machiavellian. 1570 Leslie 244.
He was so well knawin … for his politeque and wechetie effares 1585 in Calderwood IV 482.
Nather hath he need of anie politick, farre-fetched course to take for atchieving of that mater, but a plain effaldnesse 1633 Dalyell Darker Superst. 210.
In craftie and politique manner, first insinuat himselff be subtile & entyseing speiches into her favour c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 92.
[The King's letter] being keiped wp aither by his sonn, Aboyne's, negligence or the pollutick draught of those who strove to have the honor of the whole action

3. Only Sc.: a. Of a thing: Ingeniously contrived. b. Of an art: Involving or revealing ingenuity. 1549 Compl. 69/15.
I beheld … schips, marchantdreis, ande mony politic verkmanlumis for mecanyc craftis 1596 Dalr. II 125/2.
This abbot … persuadet the king of his gret cunning in al thing natural, cheiflie in that politik arte [L. arteque illa occultiori] quhilk quha knawis tha cal him an alcumist

4. Refined, cultured, polished.Only in Dalr., erron. rendering L. polītus: cf. Polit(e adj. and Policie n. 7. 1596 Dalr. I 85/18.
For the Ingles men, evin as the mair politick [L. politiores] Scottis, vses that ald Saxone toung … quhilke now is called the Ingles toung Ib. 103/10.
Chieflie thame, quha ar maist politick and decent in maniris Ib. 178/24.
Thir verses albeit nocht verie politik [L. politi] ȝit [etc.] Ib. 96/10.

B. noun. 1. A statesman, politician. b. One concerned about secular policy to the exclusion of religion, an indifferentist in religion, a mere politician. c. A scheming or devious politician.With b cf. e.m.E. (1589) id. and F. politique ‘political’, a member of the moderate party so-called, ‘which arose in France c 1573, during the Huguenot wars’ (OED). 1585 in Calderwood IV 483.
Certanlie if I were a politick with anie mal-talent toward him … I would take this same course to [etc.] a1599 Rollock Wks. I 401.
As for kingis, queenes, politickes in the eirth, all ar bot servandis onlie … of the kirk of Jesus 1600-1610 Melvill 508.
Thaise indeavores so enraged the papistes and politictes that thei … raised the very devill for the disturbance thairoff. The papistes proving [etc.] … , the politictis, feiring their craft … schould be undone, quhilk is to use indifferently all men and meines to effectuate their proffectes [etc.] 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 352.
Sik a detestable erreur … as regnes this day amangis certane politiks of the Catholiks in our countrey Ib. 358.
Thir politiks flatters thame selfis in this impietie

2. plur. a. The science and art of government; politics. b. ‘The Politics’ of Aristotle.a. 1560 Bk. Disc. in 1558-66 Knox II 215.
In the secound colledge [of Glasgow] four classes; the first in morall philosophie, ethiques, œconomiques, and pollitiques Ib. 214.
Politiquesb. 1549 Compl. 10/26.
Aristotil sais in the fyrst beuk of his politiques that [etc.]