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

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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.

Multiplicatioun, -acio(u)n(e, n. Also: multiplecatioun. [ME. multiplicacio(u)n (Chaucer, Gower, Trevisa, etc.), e.m.E. -ation, F. multiplication, L. multiplicātio.]

1. Increase, esp. in number, augmentation, reinforcement. 1456 Hay II. 164/19.
Thy bachileris and thy commounis ar the stuf and the multiplicacioun and furnyssing of thy realme 1469 Acts II. 96/2.
For the multiplicacioune of fisch 1490 Irland Mir. I. 33/6.
The kyrk has ekit and ordand the devin seruice to grow jn honour & glore and multiplicacioune Ib. MS. 230 b.
And the last twa for the multiplicacioune of cristin pepil a1578 Pitsc. I. 299/27.
Throw multiplecatioun of his enemeis [he] was oversett Ib. II. 261/2.
Thay thairin seing thair cuming tuik sic curage throche multiplicatioun of men

b. In the alchemical sense: cf. Multiply v. 4. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 890 (Bann.).
Sir len me fourty crownis To mak mvltiplicatioun

2. Production or propagation in large numbers. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 459.
He sais that mekil multiplicacione of wordis may nocht be but syne a1538 Abell 13 b.
He lauborit in multiplicatioun of barnis

3. ? Repetition. a1568 Bann. MS. 55 a/117.
This proclamatioun The quhilk with grit mvltiplicatioun This bird so sweitly song on breir

4. ? Numerosity, counting by number. 1596 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 66.
That striveling is ane terme of weycht of monie and not of multiplicatioun of monie