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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Legio(u)n, n. Also: legyowne. [ME. legiun (Layamon), legio(u)n (Cursor M.), OF. legiun, legion, L. legio.]

A legion: c1420 Wynt. v. 3011 (W).
A legioun is vi thousand Sex hundreth sexty and sex beand, Off angellis, of feyndis or of men

1. A Roman legion, of infantry with its complement of cavalry. c1420 Wynt. iv. 2434.
Tyberyus … Wytht legyownys tuelff of knychtys gud c1420 Ib. 2439, v. 1011, 3062, etc. a1500 Bk. Chess 1050.
The Romans held of knychtis at the feild Ane legioun in armes vnder scheild 1531 Bell. Boece I. 115, etc. 1533 Id. Livy I. 86/12.
Thai … dang and sloppit the Sabynis legiouns 1533 Ib. 165/1.
Be vnawarnist cummyng of Romane legiouns a1538 Abell 22 a.
Wespasioun stuffit it with ane new legion

2. An armed host, a large force of armed men. a1500 King Hart 137.
Ane legioun of thir lustie ladeis schene Folowit this quene 1513 Doug. ix. iv. 20.
Ane hail legioun about the wallis large Stude wachyng, bodyn with bow, speir, and targe c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3066.
Thocht scho had mony a legioun Off men mo nor I tauld affore

3. A vast host or multitude, esp. of angels (after Matth. xxvi. 53). 1456 Hay I. 111/26.
For and Him list, He mycht have had mony a legioun of angelis to sauf him fra thair power c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 9.
With angellis licht in legionis Thow art illumynit all about c1500-c1512 Id. x. 49.
Syng hevin imperiall … Legions of air mak armony 1528 Lynd. Dreme 340.
We saw mony ane legioun, Greitand and gowland c1552 Id. Mon. 883. c1552 Ib. 5309.
For legionis ar cum, but dout, Of Antichristis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 36.
Gif he had send yow ane legioun of angellis to your defence