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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OBLEEGE, v. Also obleedge (Sc. 1717 Analecta Sc. (Maidment 1834) I. 369), obliedge (Sc. 1710 Nairne Peerage Evid. (1878) 151); obleis(s) (Bte. 1700 Rothesay T. C. Rec. (1935) II. 535, 567; Rxb. 1706 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1914) 26), obless (Ayr. 1702 Ayr Presb. Reg. MS. (24 Nov.), oblish (Rxb. 1721 J. J. Vernon Hawick 101). Sc. forms of Eng. oblige (Abd. 1863 G. Macdonald D. Elginbrod xi.; Kcb. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister 203; Fif. 1894 J. W. M'Laren Tibbie and Tam 20; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai). Gen.Sc. Ppl.adj. obleegin. [ə′blidʒ, as formerly in Eng.]

Sc. usages: 1. intr. for refl.: to bind or pledge oneself, to promise. In O.Sc. from 1501.Slk. 1875 Border Treasury (15 May) 477:
Aw had obleegd to come hame to the wife agyen.

2. Deriv. obleeg(e)ment, oble(i)dg(e)-, oblies-, oblish-, (1) Sc. (from Civil) Law: a formal contract or agreement, gen. to pay a sum of money, an obligation. Obs. in Eng.; (2) an act of kindness, a favour (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Sc. 1909 N.E.D.). Gen.Sc., rare and obs. in Eng.(1) Sc. 1702 Rec. Cloth Manuf. (S.H.S.) 309:
Ane obliedgment granted by him to the said Societie.Sc. 1712 Hist. MSS. Comm. Report (Portland MSS.) X. 270:
At that time Rosebery was contented in case any of those two papers were passed for him to give Sir John Malcome an “oblishment” to pay him 80 l. a year during his life, which was the time he had his commission for.Sc. 1754 Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874) 56:
There is due to the claimant tho' born after the date of the said bond the sum of six thousand merks in virtue of the obligement therein after recited.(2) Rnf. 1878 Good Words 244:
It's no often I seek an obleegment.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet xxxvi.:
There's nocht like obleegements for makin' freends.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (4 March):
When doo's düne dat dey'l; tink 'at der düne dee obleegement forby.Per. 1899 C. M. Stuart Pitcoonans 80:
It would be a great obligement gin ye would tell us a' your experiences.Ags. 1930 W. L. Andrews Haunting Years 91:
He thought I had merely requested him to do it as what he termed an obligement to myself.Abd. 1934 D. Scott Stories 78:
A'm needin' an obleegement, sir.Sc. 1954 D. Mackenzie Farmer in W. Isles 50:
The possession of equipment which is frequently on loan to neighbours is a social duty in an island community whose smooth running depends on a network of “obligements”.