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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.

Inquest, Inqueist, n. Also: inqueste, -qweyst, -qu(h)ist, -cost. [ME. inqwest (1483), e.m.E. inquest (1563), later var. of enquest Enquest n.]

1. An inquest in the usual legal sense.(a) 1396 Scot. Ant. XIV. 217.
Thru a lele inquest before the twa forsayd partis c1420 Wynt. vi. 124.
For to refus or to comend, As swylk inqweystis may mak kend 1471 Acta Aud. 18/1.
Thare is bot a symple inquest past vppone the said landis to put the said Donald fra his possessioun 1490 Acta Conc. 125/2.
Patrik and William sall nocht fortify the partii that beis oneservit be that inquest 1564 Peebles B. Rec. 293.
Gif ony nebur, beand on the inquest, … reweill ony thing that is spokin, … that the baillais sall try the spekair thairof 1655 Stitchill Baron Ct. 1.
Fyfteen … honest men of whois … qualificatioun he has assurance to pas voyce upon inquest or jury in all matters questionable(b) 1471 Acta Aud. 19/1.
For thair … deseruing of ane inqueist with Archibald Mure of vi merkis worth of land 1505–6 Peebles B. Rec. 34.
Quhilk deliuerance of inqueist bur that it was fundyn … that [etc.] 1538 Reg. Privy S. II. 413/1.
To him and to the personis of inqueist that wes apoun the serving of his brevis purchest apoun the landis of Carnbaddy 1548 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 140.
Becaus the prouest and baillies hes bene euill seruit in tymes past quhen they had ado with assyssis or inqueistis 1558-66 Knox I. 199.
As the theaf abydis the tryall of the inqueist 1570 Leslie 63.
Considering the ignorance that was amangis landit men, quhen thai past apoun inqueistis

b. Brefe or breve of inquest, a retourable brieve impetrated from chancery directing the sheriff or in a burgh the baillies to try the validity of the claimant's title: for a full account, see Erskine Inst. iii. viii. 59 f. (also, e.g., Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.). See also Brefe n.and Breve n. 1474 Charter (Reg. H) No. 442.
For the wrangwis … proceding in the seruing of a breif of inquest 1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. 116.
To present ane bref of inquest to the … balyes of the burghe 1503 Acts II. 245/1.
It sal be lefule ... to the schiref or ony other officiar that is juge to the breve of inqueste to summond the said inquest apon quhat dais he plesIb. 253/2. 1526 Dunferm. B. Rec. 280.
To gyf hyme stait and possessione of the said land … be ane breif of inquest, as it is contenit in the court buk

c. In general sense: Inquiry. 1456 Hay II. 40/18.
The inquisitour examynour suld mak inquest at the squyar gif ever he did ony grete … syn

2. The persons taking part in an inquest.Also, in certain burghs (as Lanark and Peebles) as the name of a judicial and administrative body appar. not identical with the council.(a) 1466 Peebles B. Rec. 155.
The inquest fand that master Jhon Doby swld haiff all the skwll, owttakand thai that leyryt to syng 1510 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 390.
The quhilk wrang … wes referrit to the inquest suorne in presens of the partyis 1517 Fife Sheriff Ct. 68.
The schireffis foirsaid gert cast wp the said inquest … of the quhilkis the names followis 1669 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 322.
By the inviolable custom of the court … imediatly after debate and defences the inquest inclose(b) 1523 Carnwath Barony Ct. 9.
The inqueist ordanis him to … craif Vill Inglis gyf he aw him 1556 Peebles B. Rec. I. 235.
The inqueist ordanis to gar gadder stanis to Peblis brig egis 1559 Ib. 257.
And the inqueist ordanis the baillies as ony commoun besynes occurris to caus thair officeris warne the counsale [etc.] 1581 Lennox Mun. 521.
It is fund be ane conning inqueist … that his louit cousingnace … is idiot 1605 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 269.
The executioun of sic decreit as sall folow vpoun the delatioun of the said inqueist 1622-6 Bisset I. 81/3.
Be inquisitioun of ane assyse or inqueist, called a juri of certane … guid men(c) 1458 Peebles B. Rec. I. 129.
Before the chawmerlane Thom Robyson ... was fund be an inqwyst quhyt of the som that Thom Doby clamyt apon tham 1536 Carnwath Barony Ct. 204.
The said party amettit all the inquhist exsep the ȝong lard of Gershous 1545 Stirling B. Rec. I. 40.
The inquist findis the borcht persewit be Elspeth Mukkart aganis Katherine Jak of avale 15.. Lanark B. Rec. 20.
It is statut ... be the inquist and counsall that [etc.]; the inquist ordanis that [etc.](d) 1512 Wigtown B. Ct. 7 b.
As beis fund be the incost