Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CONVENER, n. Also †conveener. One who convenes a meeting, specif. and orig. the president of the Incorporated Trades in a burgh, the Deacon Convener (see Deacon, n.¹), the Chairman of a county council or of any committee of a town or county council, or in gen. of any committee. Gen.Sc. and occas. also in Eng. The word seems to be giving way to ‘chairman’ in many instances in the new Local Government arrangements. Comb. convener's court, see quots.; †convener's house, the Trades House in Glasgow. See Trade, 2. (5).Gsw. 1711 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (B.R.S.) 465:
In the election of the dean of gild and deacon conveener the provost has the first vote. Sc. 1721 H. Arnot Hist. Edb. (1816) 397:
Among their deacons, one of them had long borne the title of Convener. Sc. 1729 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 326:
The lyte of the three laid before the councill from the conveeners house. Sc. 1758 A. Warden Burgh Laws Dundee (1872) 276:
It was agreed by the Convener and Deacons that an Act made by the Convener's Court in October, 1719, be read in the presence of the haill Incorporation. Sc. 1781 Edb. Advertiser (14 Dec.):
The Convener of the Trustees for the Wright's Houses district intimates that there is to be a meeting on Saturday. Sc. 1805 Acts Gen. Assembly (27 May):
The Assembly appointed the following Committee accordingly; . . . and Dr Inglis to be Convener. Dmf. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 21:
A' the Sev'n-Trades'-Colours fleeing, Their bauld Convener proud o' being The Chief owr a'. Ags. 1826 A. Balfour Highland Mary I. i.:
My gudeman was made conveener o' the trades on Thursday. Sc. 1904 M. Atkinson Local Gvt. in Scot. 46, 49:
At the head of each committee [of a Town Council] is its convener, who takes general charge of its work, and is usually prepared to answer questions in the full council. . . . The convener of the county, though his legal term of office is only one year, is generally reappointed. Sc. 1974 Mearns Leader (18 Oct.) 3:
Finance convener Mr James Forbes . . . Mr W. Dalgarno, committee convener [Kincardineshire County Council]. . . Health convener Dr A. M. Michie [Banchory Town Council]. Sc. 1974 Scotsman (28 Dec.) 1:
Mr John Foster, of Cowdenbeath, convener of Fife district shop stewards for the passenger section of the TGWU.Edb. 1980s:
Robert Cairns, Planning Convener, Edinburgh District Council.