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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.

Titil(l, Title, Tittil(l, n.¹ Also: tityl(l, -yle, -el(l, -ile, -ule, tytil(l, -yl(l, -ell, -le, tittle, tyttel, -l(e, tetyll, -el, taytille, tit. (abbrev.); tytire. [ME and e.m.E. titel, titul, title, tytle (all Cursor M.), tityll (Rolle), tytele (Trevisa), titill (a1400-50), tytell (1523), OF title, F. titre, L. titulus].

1. A legal right or entitlement, chiefly of possession (of property, etc.), also of doing something. Also attrib. Also transf. or fig.Also const. of the particular right cited, also, tautologically, titill of richt; also in titill or in titill and commend of land or a benefice held as of right.For passive title see also Passive adj. 3 a.(1) 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 32.
Tha landis rentis & possessions o the qwhilkis I ame or may be ony titil o lach ayr to 1412 Laing Chart. 24.
He … sal noth iniure … the place throuch na titil of patronage bot as it is granttit … in this indentour 1416 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 247^a.
Me Marioune the Ros tyl haffe wedset and throu the tytil off wedsettyng tyl haff lattyn myne annuale rent awand tyl me 1456 Hay I 186/33.
And have gude caus and querele to mak were apon him be the title of fault of passage 1456 Hay I 280/9.
Thus he maid questioun … sayand, he traistit he wrangit him and his lignie to bere thai armes, sperand be quhat title of rycht he bare thame 1465 Buccleuch Mun. II 67.
Al richt and titill of rycht, alswele petitor as possessour c1475 Wall. x 483.
I cleym no thing as be titill off rycht 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 110.
James of Douglas … maisterfulle without tytil of richt intromettis with xvij croftis 1509 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 265.
[We have] renuncit … all richt clame or titill of rycht petitorye or possessorye titill … to the saidis landis 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 42.
Johnne Forret grauntit … that he keist nocht the turffis be na title of richt 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 106.
Nor ȝit be na clame, nor rycht be tytill of airschipe 1562-3 Winȝet I 8/9.
The schuiting of honeste men fra thair native roumes be tytle off ȝoure newe quhirlie fewis a1578 Pitsc. I 161/10.
That the King of Denmark and Norrowoy sould gif ovir all titill of richt that he had or micht haue vnto the landis of Orknay and Scheitland 1578–9 Perth Kirk S. MS 12 Jan.
Thatt the consell of the toun had maid him sum titill of rycht to the annuallis of the confraternity alter 1665 Irvine Deeds MS Aug./Nov.
Tityle(2) c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 92.
I wes … made Priowre Off the Ynche … Hawand tharof my tytill … Off Sanctandrowys dyocesy 1453 Stirlings of Keir 226.
Al rycht, titil, and clame of rycht, bath petitour and possessour 1460–70 Black Bk. Arbroath in Innes Sketches 506.
Titule c1515 Asl. MS I 258/10.
Gryme the son of Duff with the wrang titill of his predecessour inwadit the crovne 1521 Douglas Corr. 79.
Titell 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxvii.
Ane tytil ye haue to ane half nettis fisching of Done 1549 Lamb Resonyng 59/20.
Quha reulis his part of this ile … be quhat titill, quhiddir be mariage, subdewit or fre surrendering? 1554 Misc. Bann. C. II 28 (see b below).
Titulis 1563 Ecclesia Antiqua 310.
The annuel rents … to remane with thame … reservand to him alanerlie the titill 1567 Acts III 31/1.
That all giftis … pensiounis [etc.] … gevin … vnder preuie seill and greit seill be … our souerane lordis mother … ar … lauchful, ful and perfyte tytillis and rychtis 1569 Cal. Sc. P. II 643.
Tytell 1570 Inv. Q. Mary cxxxiii n. 1.
He refused to delyver … these that he keipis and we knaw not be what tytills or raison he hes to crave the same 1575 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 269.
Hes transferrit his haill titill rycht and entres in the persoun of the said Johnne Gordoun and hes surrogat him in his place c1575 Balfour Pract. 250.
The air sould never be in keiping of him quha may clame ony richt or titill to the heritage a1578 Pitsc. I 122 n. 1.
James Hamiltounis mareage with the king's eldest dochtar is thair tytill to the croun 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 386.
[He and his predecessors have been] kyndlie possessouris of the saidis landis [for about a hundred years] be takkis and sufficient titillis maid to thame thairupoun 1590 Reg. Privy C. IV 502.
[The tenants being … constrained … to pay such large sums for grassum and entry as they could not pay without selling their] titill and kyndnes 1622-6 Bisset I 39/7.
All … offices … to the quhilkis thai may iustlie … be provyded be guid tytill a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 205.
Ane obligation maid titulo lucrativo will not reduce ane titile onerous with seaseing followeing theruponattrib. 1559 Rec. Earld. Orkney 112.
The heritable titill haiffaris of the landis(b) 1490 Irland Mir. III 86/5.
For the sammyn errour will say that quhen the empriour or king is in deidly syn … that thai haue na iust title to the empyr or realme 1501 Reg. Privy S. I 108/1.
A letter of title 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 4.
The said Schir Laurence grantit the taking of the said oxin be ane just title … schewin in jugement 1586 Inverness Rec. I 308.
That the samyn … halcht apertenis to the Laird of Grant, and this burcht to haiff na tytle thairoff 1592 Acts III 574/2.
That na assignatioun or vther euident … salbe a valiable title to persew or defend with gif it salbe than … verifiet … that the cedent remanis … at the horne 1592 Reg. Soltre lxxxix.
[Being desirous to acquire a] kirk title c1630 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 190.
Sir Laughlane alleadgeing ane new lease and right be the kings controller … and Sir James alleadging ancient right, title and possessioune a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) App. 35.
The Law of Scotland is easie … by reason of our registers, which are so full, that titles are much more easily cleared here c1650 Spalding II 90.
[The king] relinquishes all title of impoising vpon merchandise 1668-9 Fraser Lawfulness Separ. 23.
Possession is no title … forty years prescription will not make a … title … valid 1681 Stair Inst. iv xxxviii § 18.
In all summonses there must … be an active title of the pursuers and a passive title of the defenders … And if these titles require writ, the same must be produced 1681 Stair Inst. iv xxxviii § 18.
Accessory titles … as when an heir pursues for an heritable debt and claims likewise the bygone annualrents 1681 Stair Inst. iv xxxviii § 19.
Active titles are either original or by progress. Original titles are where the right is originally in the pursuer. But titles by progress are either retours on services of heirs … or assignations … or gifts [etc.] 1681 Stair Inst. iv xxxviii § 20.
Passive titles are these wherein the defenders must be passive, either by being decerned to pay or perform [etc.] … or not repugn 1681 Stair Inst. iv xxxviii § 25.
The implied titles are oft-times without writ; thus in pursuits for debt the pursuer's title is as creditor and the defender's is as debtor, which needs not be so expressed 1688 Fountainhall Decis. I 498.
The Dutchess of Lauderdale being pursued by the Lady Boghall for some jewels … and for her active title, producing a notorial extract of the Countess's testament(c) c1420 Ratis R. 1292.
Sum tendis to be hir aire, And bring hire fredome in hire tetyll, And haf na rycht ore ellis lytill(d) 1545 Douglas Corr. 156.
It is no gudnes that siche ane lowde fallo, that hes marit my ostes, sowld heif my guddis, that he hes no rycht nor taytille to(e) 1586 Conv. Burghs I 212.
As concerning Sanct Nicolas Mett … ordanis the commissioner of Abirdene to produce … quhatt rycht or tittill they have to tak vp the samyn 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
So, if rightly we reason the patronall right, their tittle beeing onerous and not lucratiue, they ought the kirk a plane patrociny and protection of law 1663 Dumfries Council Min. MS 28 Feb.
Offers to produce … the saide thrie tyttles … and in the meane tyme to enact himselff that nather he nor no vther in his name sall plew … the saide thrie aikers 1671 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 34.
In this case there is not the least shadow of a coloured tittle(3) 1539 Reg. Privy S. II 457/1.
Our haly fader the Pape … hes promovit … Robert Stewart to the abbacy of Halyrudehous … in titill and commend 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 177.
Upoun the vacance of ony prelacie the kirkis thairof salbe disponit to qualifiit ministeris in titill 1579 Reg. Privy S. VII 342/2.
The samin landis … sall pertene to our soverane lord … as escheit als frelie … as gif the committaris of the said abhominable murthouris had bene in titill thairof thame selffis a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 21.
A benefice may be given either in tytle or commend(4) transf. or fig. 1490 Irland Mir. I 124/5, 6.
The blist sone of God … said that, thocht man be his be titill of creacioune, ȝit thar attoure he suld be his [be] new titill of redempcioune 1559 Knox VI 45.
We aught to tak head least that we in establissing one [sc. woman] judged godlie and profitable to hir countrey, mack enteres and titill to many 1560 Acts II 531/1.
The notis … quhairby the … spous of Christ Jesus is knawin fra … the kirk malignant … ar nouther antiquitie, tytle vsurpit, lineall discente … nor multitude of men approuing ane errour 1562-3 Winȝet I 51/33.
The titill that our new Caluiniane kingis … culd haif for thair auctoritie 1562-3 Winȝet I 94/19.
Al iust man in the kirk of God quha subdeuis his … lustis to the diuine law is a victorious king … spiritualie. Nochttheles we demand ȝou gif be that titill euiry man … may iustlie be a king to ministrat iustice? 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. B iib.
That cloik … quhilk thay supposit thai had vnder the tytill of thair foirbearis 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 57.
Christ is not made mine because I pike Him out of the heavens but … because I have ane sure title [etc.] 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xx 9.
My muse … from Montgomery … hir birth doth clayme … Pretending tytyls to supply his place, By ryt hereditar

b. The document in which a right or entitlement is recorded. 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 405.
[The Lords assign to the said William Malevyne … to produce] his tytle of richt that he has til distrenȝe for the sade annuale 1554 Misc. Bann. C. II 28.
The first actioun persewit for the allegit molesting of thame to brouk previlege of merchandice … The tytill producit be thame sa far as may appeir be the copy delyverit to us thairof … to the effect that we mycht considder quhow mekle of the charter producit be thame thai wald [blank in text] for thair titulis in the said caus 1587–8 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 9 March.
The leter of ballere & assedatione maid to Johne Ogiluie … & all wtheris titillis maid be the said Mariory to hym 1589–90 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 10 March.
Valter Cordiner … requirit … the inspection of the tytill that quhar … Thomas Ord & his spous … haid maid thame aassignais to … thre thowsand … markis mony … and becaus … Samuall vald nocht present to hym the said lettir of assignatione [etc.] 1592 Acts III 571/1.
The samyn … apperis to be bot forgeit and counterfute tytillis 1622-6 Bisset I 167/28.
Because the persewer … foundis his summoundis or lybell upoun ane tytill in wreit, he suld produce the samin a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 193.
The superior persewing his wassall to sie his haulding is not oblidged to show his interess or titile; because the wassall is certified therof be his owen evidents 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 139 (12 March).
All uther wryttes evidentes ryghtes tittilles and securities of the saids lands

2. The name of a book or poem, etc. or of a section or subsection of an, esp. legal, work; the work so titled.(a) c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 95.
The tytill of this tretis … I wyll be caulde Orygynale 1533 Gau 3/24, 4/3.
Thay haif gadrit to gider in thir forsaid … bukis mony sindrie prayers as thay thocht maist godlie and vrait reid and fals fenȝeit titels and marvolous commendations befor thaime … in that orisone thay gaif sic vane glorious tetels and namis [etc.] 1533 Gau 5/20.
Titels a1538 Abell 114b.
In that decretale it is said … and in the sam titill [etc.] 1572 Cal. Sc. P. IV 466.
The substance of the actes that cannot be well knowen by the tytills 1578–9 Reg. Privy S. VII 291/2.
To … examinat the haill registeris of the actis of Parliament, constitutionis and decisionis of caussis [etc.] … and to degest the samin in ordour be reductioun of the haill materis … thairin contenit to certane generall heidis and tytillis 1596 Dalr. I 119/25.
The title of the law buke … is sa namet, Regiam Maiestatem(b) c1590 Fowler II 34/21.
Ȝe haue anewe of paragraphis of the tit. De dolo malo

3. A name, more generally, of a person or thing. c1420 Wynt. iv 1898.
That metalle … fyne, Off Corynt had the tytill c1420 Wynt. v 4908.
Fra theyne Candillmes Of that fest a tityll wes a1630 S. Leith Rec. 2 Ser. 281/2.
Q. Quhat titilles ar gevin Him. A. First He is called Jesus; Secoundly, He is called Chryst 1666 Laing MSS 349.
That ever bair the tytell in my heart of my dierest cosen

4. A name or appellation attaching to a person or family by virtue of rank, office, etc.(a) c1420 Wynt. v 2433.
All the empryowrys … To tytyll Cesare August hade 1494 Loutfut MS 42b.
Eftir the salutationis here abone writtin … suld be nammyt eftir largesse of rycht with the titillis of his lordschip a1538 Abell 57b.
The ympire of the orient failȝeand paip Steue gaif the titillis ymperiall to Pipin and his successouris 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 15.
Wpoun the xxvj day of Aprile thair came ane ambassadour fra the Empriour of tytill with the ordour of the goldin fleis to the kingis grace a1578 Pitsc. II 62/26.
Chancellar of Scotland, archbischop of Sanctandros, bischope of Meripois [etc.] … and reciting als mony titillis of his vnworthie honoris as wald haue laidin ane scheip 1596 Dalr. I 127/11.
In euerie prouince ar owrismen quhome of ane ald titil we cal schirreffis 1596 Dalr. II 443/21.
In quhilk title fra thair lyuenges, lugengis, and palices tha kaist the bischopis of Dunkelde, Dunblane, Rosse, and al the rest frome al thair landis 1602 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 152.
[The Pope] quhose tyttels and dignitie was directlie contrarie to my professions a1605 Montg. Misc. P. l 6.
Sen thair is ane without compair, Sic tytillis in ȝour sanges deleit: And prays the pereles [perle] preclair, Montgomrie, maikles Margareit c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 22.
Mr. Andrew Yongs disciples … were manumissed with the magisterial title 1661 Acts VII 50/1.
A patent … giveing vnto the Earle of Hartfell the tytle of Earle of Annandale and Hartfell [etc.](b) 1598 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 669/2.
I … pray your Lordship that he be honourit wyth sum tytire of honour at his depairting

5. An inscription. a1500 Seven S. 1631.
He … maid a well for thair drinkyn And thairabone … Ane ymage … And in his forhed writtin was [etc.] … Ane scolar … Come by the well and red the tytill [etc.] ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 294.
Ȝour titill apoun the croce … in the quhilk wes writtin Jesus Nazarenus rex Judeorum 1549–50 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 196.
Item thre angellis that buir the titill of Christ siluer our gilt