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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Supplement, n. Also: suplement, suppliement. [ME and e.m.E. supplement (Wyclif), supplemente, supplyment (Trevisa), suppliment (1544), OF supploiement, suppleement, supplément (1313, early 14th c. and 15th c. in Larousse), L. supplementum, f. as Supplé v.]

1. The supplying of what is needed; the making good of some deficiency.(1) 1575 (1585) Reg. Great S. 261/1.
Our said kirk … being reuenous and haveand neid and mister of beitment and supplement(2) 1580–1 Reg. Privy C. III 342.
[His Majesty] grantis and disponis the samin to the said James … with supplement of all faultis and imperfectiounes, gif ony be 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV 611.
Ane new gift of the saidis landis grantit with all dew solempniteis and with supplement of all faultis

b. A piece of writing added to a literary work in order to complete it. a1650 Row 481 title.
A Supplement of the Historie of the Kirk of Scotland

c. In legal contexts: In supplement, in order to confirm imperfect evidence; as additional confirmation (of something). Also, oath of supplement.(1) c1575 Balfour Pract. 325.
The airis of tailȝie may be callit and persewit in supplement, in sa far as the airis of line or not responsal a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 173.
The lords in suplement of the seaseing admmitted this adminicle(2) 1681 Stair Inst. iv xlv § 17.
Whosoever is cited by a messenger to compear and depone by an oath of calumny, verity or supplement, if he do not depone, he is holden as confessed

d. Letters of supplement, a writ from the Court of Session enabling the judge of an inferior court to summon a defender to appear before him, when the defender is living outside that court's jurisdiction. 1671 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 544.
That pretended instrument … is so defective … for … it is made at his dwelling-house; whereas … at the time of the date of the instrument he wes out of the country, and so it should have been done by letters of supplement

2. a. An addition to something by which its deficiencies are made good; assistance, aid. b. Financial aid, compensation.a. 1593 Misc. Spald. C. I 6.
For supplement of his memorie thay hawe subscryvit thir presentis within wryttinb. 1662 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 189.
Ther is fyve thousand pund sterlin allowit out of the annuitie for the suppliement of the overvaluit burghes and shyres

3. The action of compensating for (the absence of someone) by providing a substitute or successor. 1631 Linlithgow B. Rec. 30 Sept.
For supplement of thair absence [the council] hes aggriet that twa sufficient men be choisin ȝeirlie to supplie the absentis

4. ? The action of implementing, or ? facilitating the implementation of (a measure). 1585 Reg. Privy C. III 747.
With avise of the lordis of his Secrete Counsale, to quhome the interpretatioun, explanatioun, supplement and full execution of the said Act of Parliament is committit

5. In fig. context: Reinforcements. 1614 P. Forbes Defence Lawful Min. Ref. Ch. (1614) 65 (Jam. s.v. Morgue).
But a vaine and weakly backed bravado, which, to offer us with a newe and high morgue, our adversaries have newlie bene animated by their late supplement of fresche forces from beyond sea