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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Abusioun, n. Also: habusioun, abus(s)ieoun, abutioun, abusion(e. [ME. abusioun, -ion, -ione (c 1300), OF. abusion, L. abūsiōn-, abūsio.]

1. Misuse; improper use.1456 Hay II. 21/26 (the abusioun of the order of knychthede). a1500 Henr. Orph. 333 (the gret abusion off iustice). c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 68/2 (the abusioun of my handis). 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 152 (abusioun of the rentis of the Kirk).

2. Misconduct, wrong-doing, impropriety; disregard or violation of what is right or just.a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 844 (ane bestlie abusioun). 1492 Myll Spect. 273/8 (gret abusioun and folye). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 71 (so grit abusioun in court). 1549 Compl. 89/30 (to remeide ȝour abusions). a1578 Pitsc. I. 387/30 (effectit to covitousnes and abusieoun).

3. Deceit; deception, misleading.1540 Lynd. Sat. 2062 (our greit abusioun is cleirlie knawin). 1567 G. Ball. 190 (thair illusioun and fals abusioun). 1597 Crim. Trials II. 26 (it wes onlie plane abusione).

b. The fact of being deceived or led astray.c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2250 (off Gentilis superstitioun And of thare gret abusioun). a1578 Pitsc. I. 388/23 (God, seand the abussieoun of this king, … ).

4. Scorn, contempt.c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 809 (haldand Venus euer in abusioun). 1567 G. Ball. 118 (will thow vs hald in thair abusioun?).