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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.

Lesioun, n. Also: lessioun, les-, læsion(e, leision, leassion. [Late ME. lesion (1452, c 1460), otherwise appar. chiefly or only Sc., F. lésion, L. læsio n. of action f. lædere v. to hurt (see Lesed p.p.).]

1. Injury, harm, hurt (in non-material sense). 1472 Lennox Mun. 88.
The breking, lesione and hurting of my faith a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcvii. 71.
Makand thair awin prouisioun For oure grit scaythe and lesioun a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 161.
Sum men of his … distroyed all his coirnes and housses to his great enorme lessioun a1689 Cleland 27.
Fit for to revenge our lesione We have sustain'd

2. Espec., detriment in respect of property or rights. Also once plur. (Cf. Lesed p.p.).Freq. also enorme lesioun, Enorm(e a. 1 b. 1561 Montgomery Mem. 160 (see Enorm(e a. 1 b).
Enorme lesioun — 1580 Red Bk. Menteith II. 418.
The samin … tendis to our greit hurt and lesioun 1633 Acts V. (1870) 24/1.
His Majestie … revokes … all … dispositiones quhatsumever maid by His Majestie or his … father ather in thair minoritie to thair hurt and lesione or [etc.] 1659 Douglas Corr. 267.
Convince the young pupels that what wee did was for ther good and not to ther hurt and leassion 1677 Cullen Kirk S. Feb. 26.
The said Nicolas hath … in all four distinct seats to the lesion of him and others 1686 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 767.
This was a læsion to the revenue 1697 Conv. Burghs IV. 228.
Wee … represent to your lordship ane considerable lesione done to our privieledges in the Netherlands 1698 Misc. 3 Spald. C. II. 104.
He being persewed qua tutor and the redoundancie of the action tending to the lesion of the pupillplur. 1608 Fam. Rose 298.
And for sundrie vtheris enorme lesionis done in him by the said Mr. Alexander Hay … in taking frome him the tutorie of Banisfeld [etc.]

b. As ground for annulling a legal deed. 1587 Acts III. 434/2.
For ony vther ressone or caus of nullitie invaliditie lesioun or hurte a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 56.
For any wther caus of nullity, invalidity, laesione or hurt 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxxiv. 7. (1699) 165.
The edict it self says, quod metus causa gestum erit ratum non habebo, without considering læsion 1681 Stair Inst. i. vi. 44.
But this remeid is not competent for every small lesioun, but it must be enorm 1684 Decis. Lords F. 60.
Antonia Broun as heir to her father … having reduced the service upon minority and lesion

3. Physical hurt or injury. 1587-99 Hume Conscience 106/7.
The spirit of man … may be … damnified and troubled … sometime by the exterior leision of the partes of the head