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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Metropolitan(e, a. and n. Also: methro-, metra- and -politanne, -politant, -pulitant. [e.m.E. metropolitan (15–16th c.), metrapolitan, -polytane, late L. metropolītān-us.]

1. adj. Pertaining to an ecclesiastical ‘metropolitan’ or archbishop: = archiepiscopal.(1) 1479 Acts II. 128/2.
The maist reuerend faider in God William, archbischop of the sege metrapolitane of Sainctandrois 1571 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 209.
That thair be a certane assembly or cheptoure of learnit ministeris annext to euery metrapolitan or cathedrall seatt 1596 Dalr. II. 91/21.
That the metrapolitan power and authoritie in S. Androis sould be planted(2) 1490 Acta Aud. 142/1.
Johne prior of the metropolitane kirk of Sanctandres 1504–5 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 677.
To the reparacioun of the metropolitane kirk of Glasgew 1535 Stewart 35313. 1539 Glasgow Prot. IV. 118.
The maister of the sang scuyll of the metropolitane kyrk of Glasgw 1558 Glasgow Cordiners 248. 1563 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 409/1. 1569–70 Ib. VI. 161. a 1571 Soc. Ant. Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 59.
The dene and channonis of the metropolitane kirk of Glasgw 1585 Acts III. 419/1.
(Saint Andrews) 1631 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 2.
Abone the yett on the west gavill of the metrapolitane Kirk(3) 1491 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 483.
Our chanons … doubtis … that and our kyrke war errekkyt in metropolitane that we suld … compell tham to the payment [etc.](4) 1612 Breadalbane Lett. 28 Nov.
Ȝour sone Patrik is bussie studeing to his Greik and lookis to be some metrapolitane bischop or some lord of the sait

2. Of, pertaining to or constituting a metropolis or capital city of a country. 1549 Compl. 110/25.
The toune of Tribie, quhilk is the methropolitane & capital cite of that cuntre 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 171.
The port of Leith is the metrapolitan sea port of this kingdome 1678 Ib. 352.
[Edinburgh,] this metrapolitant citie of the kingdom 1689 Ib. XI. 260.

3. n. A metropolitan bishop, archbishop, primate. c1420 Wynt. vii. 1748.
He, as metropolitane, Suld hawe oure byschapys evyrilkane Off oure kynryk off Scotland [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 76/33.
Quhow grete wes the humilitie and halines of that counsel, and quhow mony preistis in number, almaist for the maist parte metropolitanes [marg. That is, principal bischopes of the first principal] 1570 Leslie 41.
Quhairthrouch thay could not haif accesse to thair metropolitane, speciallie for remedie of appellacione 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 3.
Our metropolitane of Fyffe 1600-1610 Melvill 640.
And Saint Androis, the great metropolitane, [rode] alone by him selff, and ane of the ministers … walkit at his stirrope c1615 Chron. Kings 78.
At this tyme Patrick Grahame wes bischop off Sanct Androis; he wes creattit metropolitane of the same 1610 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 1079. 1622-6 Bisset I. 88/26. 1666 Glasgow Burgesses 176.
James, archbishop of St. Andrews, primait and metrapulitant of Scotland 1684 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 348.
Metrapolitan