Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1738, 1825-1871
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‡MERCIMENT, n. Also mercement.
1. Mercy, disposal, absolute jurisdiction (Bnff. 1962).Sc. 1738 Cushnie MSS. (Abd. Univ. Lib.) 1561:
I hereby fully impower you to dacker my Interest when you please and what Moss firr Timber is found therein shall be at your mercement.n.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
“I maun be at”, or “come in your merciment”; I must put myself completely under your power.s.Sc. 1839 Wilson's Tales of the Borders V. 94:
Wha kens what may com owre ye, if ye put yersel i' their merciment.Sc. 1840 G. Webster Ingliston xxx.:
It's hell upon yearth to be in siccan merciment.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin v.:
He resolved to place me under the merciment o' Mr Squeaker, the parish dominie.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xlix.:
It's only at my merciment gin ye be lang here.
2. Used = mercy, an act of clemency or compassion, a benevolent dispensation (Ork. 1975). Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 6, 39:
He thankit the Lord for his merciments till him in keepin' his judgments frae affen' him. . . . It was a great merciment that the little smatchets hadna their een knockit oot wi'd.
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"Merciment n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/merciment>
