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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.

Advocat, n. (Freq. adu-.) Also: adwocat, advocate. [ME. advocate (c 1400), L. advocātus. Earlier ME. forms were advoket, avoket, avocat, from OF.]

1. A professional pleader in a court of justice. Lord Advocat: see Lord. a1400 Leg. S. xi. 249.
Thane wes mony adwocat To the kyng brocht fwte-hate 1424 Acts II. 8/2.
That the Juge … get a lele & a wys aduocate to folow sic pur creaturis caus 1456 Hay I. 144/5.
Gif ane advocate in parlement … has begonne to do his office of a ȝere, he suld have all his ȝeris wagis a1500 Henr. Fab. 1168.
As aduocatis expert into the Lawis Ib. 1188.
Baith assessouris, clerk, and aduocate 1493 Acta Aud. 180/1.
Archibald erle of Angus … & our souerane lordis aduocatis beand present for the parte of our souerane lord 1524 Edinb. B. Rec. 218.
Our familiar seruitour, aduocat, and justice clerk c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5752.
Thare sall compeir, of everilk land, … Fals jugis, with thare advocatis 1588 Glenartney Docum. MS.
Commanding alsua oure advocat … to compeir and insist in persute of the saids lettres 1622-6 Bisset I. 157/27.
The ordinare advocattis of thaire courte and sessioun 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. 456–61.
Of Advocats and Procurators 1695 Acts IX. 433/1.
The other Advocats in Toun were taken up by the defender

2. One who intercedes for, or speaks on behalf of, another. c1420 Wynt. ix. Prol. 50.
I haiff maid hir my advocate, That bare hym [sc. Christ] 1456 Hay II. 50/24.
A protectour and ane advocate of all pore, miserable, and peceable personis c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 5/3.
[The devil is a] malicious aduocat and fals doctour to thé Ib. 47/9.
The blissit moder of god thyne aduocate c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxii. 25.
My aduocat, bayth fair and sweit 1560 Conf. Faith, Acts II. 529/1.
Our Lord Jesus chryst … aduocate and onlie mediatour for ws a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 58.
The croce of Christ … Our aduocat and most assured ayd