A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1464-1479, 1531-1695
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Precepto(u)r, n. Also: prae- and -oure, -owre. [Late ME preceptur (15th c.), e.m.E. praeceptor (a 1568), in sense 2 below, med. L. preceptor, in sense 1 a, L. præceptor instructor, teacher, F. précepteur (15th c. in Littré).]
1. a. The head of a preceptory or provincial community of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John.Only with reference to that at Torphichen. See also, for examples, Knicht n. 2 c. 1464 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XVII 315.
Frere Henry of Levyngstoune, Knycht, preceptour of the ordir of Sanct Iohne of Ierusalem within the kynrik of Scotland 1468 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 406.
Sir Willeame Knollis preceptor of Torfiching 1479 Misc. Bann. C. III 427. 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 21.
And siclik the preceptouris [territory] quhair his officiaris are deforcit [etc.] 1545 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 596. 1564 Reg. Privy S. V i 494/1.
James, Lord Sanctjohnnis, preceptoure of Torphichin a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 272.
The praeceptours of St. John of old had the forfaltor of their owen tenents
b. Also applied to a provincial superior of a house of the Trinitarian order (sc. that of Fail).See Minister n. 4 for the more usual title. 1475 Ayr B. Ct. fol. 146 a (6 April).
Sir Wilȝam Pethed preceptowre of owre lady kyrk of grace in Kyle
2. a. The superior of a college of canons or collegiate church. b. The superior and superintendent of a hospital or alms-house.Mentions of the ‘preceptor of St. James of Trailtrow’ and ‘the brethern’ and ‘the preceptor’ of St. Anthony's, Leith, occur in calendared entries at 1501 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 59 and 1505 Lett. James IV 15. 1565 (1567) Reg. Great S. 448/1.
[Regina confirmavit cartam Patricii Lyoun, preceptoris hospitalis de Balgowny-Esse 1574 Reg. Great S. 617/1.]
Cartam M. Archibaldi Menȝeis, preceptoris de Trailtrow 1586 Reg. Soltre lvii.
Ane letter to be maid under his Previe Seill … to the said Dauid, makand … him preceptour and Mr. of the College Kirk of Restalrig 1661 Acts VII 52/1.
By Halbert Nisbet of Shealls, preceptor of St. Nicholas hospitall in Glasgow, holding furth that he as preceptor forsaid hes the oversight … of all the poore within the said hospitall and the ingathering and disposeing of the rents and dueties thairof 1695 Retours Inq. Spec. I Forfar (536).]
[Cum integris beneficiis … ad præceptorem de Balgounie-Eassie spectantibus
3. An instructor, a teacher. 1531 Bell. Boece I 32.
I think the barnis of Fergus suld be gevin to wise preceptouris, to lerne lawis, gud havingis, and maneris 1531 Ib. 231.
Donatus, gramariour, and preceptour to Sanct Jerome 1531 Ib. II 486.
Mony excellent and noble clerkis war brocht out of sindry cuntreis to be preceptouris in it [University of St. Andrews] 1531 Ib. 138. 1533 Boece 59 b. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 16/30.
Ane preceptor that said til his discipulis [etc.] 1549 Ib. 28/22.
He that misprisis the correctione of his preceptor 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 148/2.
Mr. George Buchquhannane, preceptor to his hienes and kepar of his privie seill 1581 Acts III 236/2. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 155/6.
Honoure also thame that are in loco parentum unto you, sicc as youre gouuernouris & upbringaires & youre præceptouris
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"Preceptor n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/preceptour>
