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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Traffic(que, Traf(f)ique, Trafyke, Treffik, n. Also: trafficc, -ict, -ik, -ick(e, -iqwie, -yque, -e(c)que, -ect, -oque, -acte, trafict, -ik, -ect, -eck, traphik, treffique, -ick, -yk, trefek, traiffect. [e.m.E. traffykke (1505), trafyke (1538), trafficque, trafficke (both a1548), traffique (1568), traffic (1633), F. trafique (1441 in Godefroy), traffique.]

1. Trading, the transportation of merchandise for the purpose of commerce, orig. and chiefly overseas. Passing into b. Such exchange of goods between or within Scottish towns; buying and selling more generally; an instance of this.(a) 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 36.
The us of all strangearris … ar to cum and to discharge and mak thar traffic of merchandis at the said port 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 92.
Traffyque c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4796.
Thare merchandyce, in tyll all nationis … Thare pardonis, and thare dispensationis, Thay do exceid sum temporall princis rent. In sic trafyke thay ar nocht neglygent 1561 Aberd. B. Rec. I 335.
Trafique 1566 Cal. Sc. P. II 317.
[The bearer George Hoppar burgess of Edinburgh going hither for] trafficque 1566 Prot. Bk. J. Harlaw 182b.
Lundoun or Handwerp quhair the said Frances tred and traphik of merchandice is 1567 Dundee Council Rec. in Mylne Master Masons 64.
The peir hawin [etc.] … ar grytlie decayit … and abill to perishe … throw the quhilk the traffoque and exchange of this burch … is abill to be vterlie losit 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III 22.
Traffacte 1570 Conv. Burghs I 16.
The proclamatioun maid in France discharging all Scottis schippis of ony hant or trafique thair 1571–2 Reg. Privy S. VI 280/1.
Traffeque 1558-66 Knox I 445.
That the hole realme shalbe depauperat, and all traffique with forane nationis evertit thairby 1573 Reg. Privy S. VI 368/2.
Traffict 1574 Conv. Burghs I 26.
To transpoirt thair traffique frome … Flanderis to the tovne of Calais 1576 Compl. Zetl. 28a.
The Duchemen and vtheris straingeris resortand to the cuntrie of Zetland be quhome the haill trafique of the said cuntrie consistis a1578 Pitsc. II 320/35.
Trafeck 1591–2 Edinb. B. Rec. V 58.
The said extent to be layit upoun thame only that hes trafique be sey or owtwith the realme 1606 James VI in Murray Early B. Organ. I 478.
[Glasgow was] at the beginning … ane very meane and simple town, without … trafficke 1617 Ure Rutherglen 15.
Traffiqwie 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 214.
Traffecque 1622-6 Bisset II 207/28.
Trafik a1658 Durham Commandments 259.
The … conveniency of its situation for forreign traffique(b) 1570 Digest Justiciary Proc. G. 40.
The honest and lauchtfull treffique of merchandice 1596 Dalr. I 262/12.
Riches … in thir dayis mekle consisted in merchandise and treffik with vthir natiounis 1681 Stair Inst. i xii § 19.
So prepositors are correspondent in traffic at land … which institors are these who are intrusted with keeping of shops, buying or selling of ware, keeping of cash for exchange and such as are sent abroad to buy wareb. (1) 1566 Inverness Rec. I 143.
The greit hurt of thair burcht vsit … be young burges men … quha vsit thair treffyk in haiffing of … wayris of Sant Johnestoun … and sauld the wairis within … Innernis to trawelouris … of Sant Johnestoun 1577 Lanark B. Rec. 73.
That he sall caus thame cum to this toun and be maid fre … or ellis to forbeir trefek 1580–1 Crail B. Ct. 17 Jan.
[A complaint against John Angus] for the wsing off the tred and traffik off ane fre burges 1587 Aberd. Chart. 347.
The provest [etc.] … ar content to grant the saidis craftismen … the fre vse and traffique of barking of ledder, lying of butter, victuall, etc. 1587–8 Aberd. Council Lett. I 23.
Thai sall not be abill to have ony … leving … gif thai be sua excludit fra thair leifull tred and traffic to mak change in mercatis and utherwayis 1588 Burntisland B. Ct. 15 Oct.
Sume gud ordour to be taine with the onfrememene that thai vse nocht fremens traiffect and handillinge 1590 (1593) Reg. Great S. 810/2.
Thrie rudis … land … with power to … edifie housis … thairupone as thay pleis, to use occupie and exercis all kynd of change, trafficc and honest lesum craft 1597 Acts IV 139/1.
That thai nor nane of thame sall do iniurie to onie … liegis in thair personis or gudis quha salhappin to repair and trauell within the saidis boundis for thair lauchfull trafict within the samyn 1599 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 364.
The toun vnderstanding the pest being werie ill in Drumfreis and willing na resorting or traffik be betuix the said townis 1612 Brechin Test. II 225b.
The said vmquhill Robert … hed na handling nor trafect bot leiffit & his said spouis onlie on thair quyiet rent 1642 Falkirk Baron Ct. 28 Oct.
Induellaris … of Falkirk quha remaines thairintill and makis any kynde of traffique within the samyn(2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 211.
As to the multitude … gif there be any mercatis meetings, tristes and trafiques, all is casten off

2. transf. An enterprise or dealing more generally, chiefly with some foreign involvement, also, specif., an arrangement or plan for a marriage.Usu. with nefarious or sinister connotations.(1) 1558-66 Knox II 410.
That traffick of mariage wes betwix your Grace and the Spanishe allya 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
The oursey trafficque of mariage growing cauld(2) 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 156.
That the present rebellioun … hes the langar continewance be ressoun of the daly traffique, practize and intelligence betuix the inhabitantis … and the declarit tratouris 1606 Stewart Mem. 118.
That … nane of ws sall haif hant traiffect commoning nor dealing with Johne Stewart a1650 Row 146.
Mr. William Crichtoun … sent Mr. William Gordon … with letters … to let papists here know … that the king of Spaine wes … to invade … wherefore he, the said Mr. William, craved be this gentleman so many blanks and procurations to be sent to him as could be had of the noblemen here for the assurance of his traffect. Upon the receipt of whilk blanks … an airmie … should be sent to have landed … in Kirkcudbright