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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.

Molestatioun(e, -cioun, n. Also: molestation(e, -c(i)on(e. [Late ME. molestacioun(e (c 1400), e.m.E. molestation (Caxton), -tion(e, OF. molestation, L. molestātio.]

1. Hostile or vexatious interference, injurious disturbance or assault. Also b. an instance of this. 1456 Hay I. 106/18.
Gif thai mak ony molestacioun to Cristyn that is in thair jurisdictioun Ib. 221/28.
That ony be sa hardy to do thame [students] ony gref, displesance or molestacioun bot all honoure and reverence c1515 Asl. MS. I. 321/21.
Daniell put in preson a mangis lyonis thai obeyit him without molestacon 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 28.
Our hartis sterit to piete All molestatioune cessit and lattyn be 1533 Boece i. iii. 37.
Gif he mycht deliuer his freyndis fra molestacioun of thare felloun vndantit nychtbouris 1533 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 101.
Absoluit … of the saidis stroblans molestation and invasion of the saidis Georg and Hendre 1542 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 36.
I stuid in gud hoip … that I mycht hef passit my tyme apoun the bordour without ony molestatioun or inquietnes 1550 Reg. Privy C. I. 85.
That nane of thame … do ony hurt, harme, molestatioun, inquietatioun, or perturbatioun to ony of the liegis of the realme of Ingland … bot to … kepe the said peax a1578 Pitsc. I. 282/14.
And thairefter to depairt out of the toune but molestatioun or trubill of ony man 1627 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 359.
Lik as beis imprissonet for capitall crymes, truble, molestatioun or ryett done within the said burghe 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 8.b. 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 408.
The merchants … declairing the trubils and molestations done to thame be the fermorers of his maiesteis customes 1697 Soc. Ant. XI. 439.
A well attested narrative of … diabolical molestations and malefices

2. spec. Unlawful interference with a person in the possession or use of lands, the occupation of an office, the enjoyment of privileges, etc. 1416 Liber Melros 539.
The said party na nane othir man makand thaim impedyment [etc.] … na molestacione 1466 Acta Aud. 4/1.
That thai ces of all inquietacion vexacion & molestacion of him & his landis 1510 Peebles B. Rec. I. 42.
That nane of ȝow … do to the said merchandis and inhabitantis … thar landis … fischingis … or gudis forsaidis ony euil, violence, molestacioun, distribulance, iniure, harme or greif 1519 Fife Sheriff Ct. 157.
Alexander Orrok … to decist … fra ony molestacione of George Petcarne … in the peceable … brouking of his office of tutory 1531 Rec. Earld. Orkney 215.
[To] posceid the forsaidis twa merkis of land … fre but ony molestatione, inquietacione, or perturbacione of ony personis 1532 Peebles B. Rec. I. 57. 1545 Reg. Paisley App. 6. 1562 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 273/2. 1587 Acts III. 446/1.
The greit nowmer of actionis of molestatioun and trublance in the possessioun of properties and communities a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 191.
The tenants being spuilȝied of the cornes off of the ground, the master may persew for molestation of him in his possession Ib. 33.

b. Unlawful interference with the use of, misappropriation of, land or other possessions or rights. 1570 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 91 b.
He was vestit and saisit in claus of vairandice of the saidis teind schewes in caice of molestatioun and inquitatioun thairof during the space foirsaid 1572–3 Canongate Ct. Bk. 445.
The actioun … persewit … for the molestatioun of ane rig of land

c. A suit at law for unlawful interference of this sort. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Assisa.
Ane assise is … to judg … in … perambulations, commissions, molestations, purpresture 1622-6 Bisset I. 315/32.
The proceses of cognitionis and molestationis

3. concr. A cause of interference or hindrance, an obstacle. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 321/8.
Be reweris desertis and vther molestacionis