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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Garisoun, Garesone, n. Also: garisowne, -isoune, -isone, -ison, -izon; garysoun, -yson, garrisoun, guarisone; garesoun, gariesone, garaysoun. [ME. garysoun, -isoun, -ison (c 1300), OF. garison.]

1. A body of soldiers, esp. the garrison of a castle, etc.(a) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1144.
Gromys of that garisoune maid gamyn and gle 1531 Bell. Boece II. 31.
He perswadit the kyng to send ane garyson of armyt men to the bordoure 1557 Rep. Southesk MSS. 18.
To deliuer to our rycht trest cusing … i^m ii^c fifty pundis for paying of his garysoun of horsmen 1562-3 Winȝet II. 23/19.
Nocht the court, nocht the garrisoun a1578 Pitsc. II. 140/1.
With all the souddartis and gariesone thairof 1614 Highland P. III. 162.
And [= if] it war ten [men] out of euery ane of the four garisones c1650 Spalding II. 157.
He causit put in ane garisoun in Newcastell 1654 Peebles B. Rec. 423.
For tua thraif of oat stra to the garrisoun 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 386.
To call such weell affected ministers maist ewest to the above garisone to preach to them once a fortnight(b) 1570 Leslie 201.
Leaving Sir Johne Lutterell … with a garesone of men thairin 1607 Crim. Trials III. 48.
Ȝou sall put garesounes and keiparis in everie one of the same [castellis] 1651 Lamont Diary 32.
The garesone … to go foorth with flieing coullers

b. In the phrase in garison(s). 1571 Bann. Memor. 208.
Duke D'alva has drawin his men of warre from all the tounis whair thai lay in garaysoun a1578 Pitsc. II. 118/9.
[They] layd ane thowsand men thair in garisoune Ib. 286/6.
To remane in Leith … in garisownis for ane moneth c1650 Spalding II. 134.
Thair wes 2000 soldiouris lying in garison within the toune

2. A troop or company. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 11 (A).
Of stomok stelaris & cat knapparis A graceles garisoun Ib. xxxv. 34.
Jonet the weido … Off wichis with ane windir garesoun 1535 Stewart 47390.
The nobillis all in ane greit garesone … passit out of the toun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2703.
In Plutois palice … to be president Amang that graceles garisoun sa grim 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 32.
That lawless band, … together with that graceless garisone, 300 Erismen