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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PATENT, adj. Also pawtent (m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xii.), pautent (e.Lth. 1905 J. Lumsden Croonings 169). Sc. form and usages:

1. Of a doorway or similar opening: wide, unobstructed, allowing free passage, open; Sc. Law phr. to make patent doors, of a messenger-at-arms in a poinding action: to force a lockfast place with the authority of a warrant. See also Letter, n., 2. (17), King, n., 3. (28).Sc. 1718 Atholl MSS. (14 July):
They did formerly by Appointment of the presbitry mean themselves to the Sheriff of perth for making patent doors and putting new Locks theron.m.Lth. 1810 Farmer's Mag. II. 182:
The door of my house [a sheep shelter] is of the ordinary dimensions of a stable. Others make their doors so patent, as to admit carts.

2. Of a lease, contract, or the like: unrestricted, unconditional (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 49).

3. Accessible, open as to situation, of unobstructed access, in phr. the most patent door (of a church, etc.), the main door, that at which public proclamations were made.Sc. 1701 Acts Gen. Assembly 17:
The Assembly caused call the said Doctor George Garden several times at the most patent Door of the Church.Lnk. 1723 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 219:
Intimations of their sentance . . . to be made at the most patent doors of the adjacent paroch kirks.Abd. 1742 Monymusk Papers (S.H.S.) 224:
Copies were affixed and left on the most patent door of each of their dwelling houses.Sc. 1793 Faculty Decisions XI. 87:
The statute of 1555 requires that the precept should be read in the church and a copy of it affixed to the most patent door of it. The church of Cambeltown has four doors and it is not easy to say which of them is the most patent.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
“Noo,” says they, “ye'll read that at the most patentest door o' the church — the wast door.”

4. Open or available for general use, generally accessible, public. Chiefly Sc. Rare and obs. in Eng.Sc. 1722 W. Forbes Institutes I. ii. 187:
The Signet Office . . . is kept patent in Session Time from Nine to Twelve in the forenoon, and from Two to Six in the Afternoon.Sc. 1727 W. McFarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 125:
The only highways throw the said parish are . . . to the W. the patent rod to Sterling, and to the E. to the Bridge of Earn.Sc. c.1750 Young Chevalier 26:
The Dragoons were advancing toward them, mounted on Horseback and pursued the Patent Road, viz. General Wade's, to Ruthven.Sc. 1824 Scott St. Ronan's W. xv.:
In general, this office was patent to all having business there.Sc. 1834 W. Hamilton Discussions (1852) 474:
The colleges would be equally patent to such dissenters as were not averse from their observances.Sc. 1838 in T. Reid Works (1863) II. 683:
The greater number of those [works] now extant were preserved and patent during the two centuries and a half intervening between the death of Aristotle and their pretended publication by Tyrannion.