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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.

Tributar(e, Tributary, adj. and n. Also: tributarr, -air, -er(e, -ur, tribeter, trybutar(e, -er(e, trebuttar, trubitary. [ME and e.m.E. tributarye, tributarie (both Wyclif), trybutary (1494), F. tributaire, L. tribūtār-.]

A. adj. 1. Paying, liable to pay tribute (to (till) a stronger power).(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 758.
In the prowince of the Sare Quhar-to the Cayne is tributare c1420 Wynt. iii 803.
The lordys off Assyry And the Medys syndryly, Quhill ane, quhill othir, tributere [C. tributer] c1420 Wynt. iv 2002.
For till … mak thare habitatyowne Thare [sc. in Carthage] and hald it fra that day Trybutare [C. Tributer, W. tributere] till Rome alway c1420 Wynt. iv 2298.
Trybutere [C. tributer, W. tributere] a1538 Abell 3*a.
Britan wes won be the Romanys and maid tributair 1625 Garden Kings 26.
The Britons [he] strest, and took thame tributarr(b) a1578 Pitsc. II 35/10.
He wald tyne Scotland and be chassit out of it or ellis be trebuttar to the king of Ingland

b. Translating L. tributariis, semi-free slaves or former slaves who were bound to render rent or service. a1400 Leg. S. xii 123.
With trybvtaris he fled thane To the towne of Jerusaleme

2. That is paid as tribute; in form of tribute. 1632 Lithgow Trav. ii 55.
They pay a yearly tributary pension vnto the great Turke

3. Of which one must contribute towards the expenses, hence, expensive. 1632 Lithgow Trav. i 9.
Many (I confesse) long to see the remotest regions of the earth, but dare not undertake … the chargeable expences of a tributary iourney 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii 114.
This tributary, tedious, and sumptuous peregrination

B. noun. 1. One who is subject and pays tribute (to another). Also, of lands. c1515 Asl. MS I 194/6.
Galloy that now is callit Fraunce was lang tyme trybuteris to the Romanis a1538 Abell 19b.
Tributuris 1549 Compl. 146/10.
The pepil … randrit them tributaris ande subiectis to there said gouuernours a1578 Pitsc. I 18/7.
He hes maid the haill landis perteneing to the king tributtares to him [sc. Sir William Crichton] quha is ane hich officair 1596 Dalr. I 212/14.
Trubitaries c1615 Chron. Kings 12.
That Metellanus mycht also keip ametie and peass with Cesar alsweill as with the Brittonis his tribeteris

2. = Tribut(e n. 1. c1615 Chron. Kings 11.
Thair King randerit tributer to Cesar