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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Irritant, adj.¹ Also: irretant; Heritant. [L. irritans, pres. p. of irritāre to make void, Irritate v.; e.m.E. (clause) irritant (1603).] a. To be rendered void. b. Rendering null and void.Chiefly claus irritant, ‘which expresses a condition or event on the existence of which the charter, contract or other deed, to which it is annexed, is voided’ (Erskine).(1) 1511 Exch. R. XIII. 444 n.
Gif ony takkis or fewis be sett or maid … without consent of the said reverend fadir … we decerne thaim irritant, cassant, and annullant(2) 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 253/1.
William Lundy … consentit to be interditit fra all maner of alienatioun of the saidis landis … ; and the Kingis grace … interponis his decret irritant thairapoun and decernis all sic alienatiouns … to be … adnullate 1567 Acts II. 560/1.
The said former infeftment maid be hir hienes … to be … of als gret strenth force & effect as and the consent … of the thre estaitis … with thair decrete irretant had bene had thairto … from the begynning(3) 1561 Admir. Ct. Bk. 199.
Gif he had transferrit his said rycht lymmit and boundit to ane certane soume with claussis irritant 1572–3 State P. MS. (Reg. H.) No. 95 a.
In that cace … , that clavis irritant be contenit in thair infeftment 1592 Acts Sederunt 27 Nov. (1790) 19.
The Lordis declaire that … thay will juge … clausis irritant, conteinit in contractis, takis, infeftments, bandis, and obligationis, according to the wordis and meining of the said clausis 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 257.
Our commoun lands and fishings … ar fewit to gild burgesses … with verie strict conditiones and irritant clauses 1640 Spalding I. 250.
Without deduction of ony burdein, except ministeris stipendis and few deuteis or vtheris dew to his Majestie, as where there are claussis irritant 1681 Stair Inst. iv. xviii. § 3 (1693) 591.
Clauses irritant are so called because they are design'd to make void the rights in which they are contained, in the events therein exprest