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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
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Parliament, Parlement, n.¹ Also: parlea-, parlya-, parliea-, parla-, parlai-, parlie-, parly-; pairlia-, pairla-; perlia-, perlya-, perla-, perle-; parlment; (pralement). [ME. and e.m.E. parlement (1290), perlement (Wyclif), parliament (1428), perliament (c 1440), AF. parlement (1275), med.L. (Eng.) parl(i)amentum (13th c.), OF. parlement speaking.]

1. The Parliament of Scotland.Until 1707, a legislative, administrative and judicial assembly, meeting when summoned by the king in a centre nominated by him.a. A meeting of Parliament. b. Parliament viewed as an institution. c. Parliament regarded as a legislative assembly, either on a particular occasion or continuously. d. The persons attending Parliament, collectively.For the distinction between Plain parliament s.v. Plain a.¹, the ‘full and formal meeting of the King's Council in Parliament summoned upon forty days' notice, and the less formal General Council which could be summoned at shorter notice and which lacked Parliament's judicial competence but was equally competent in political business, legislation and taxation’ (Dickinson Source-bk. I. 173), see also Sc. Hist. Rev. XVIII. 159 ff. and XX. 112 ff. and 263 ff.See also General Index to Acts s.v. Parliament.Act of parliament, see Act n. 2. Lord of (the, our, etc.) parliament, see Lord n. 8 and 11. Member of parliament, see Member n. 5. See also Estate n. 2 b for further examples.Buke of … parliament, cf. Buke n. 3.To ride the parliament, see Ride v. Riding of parliament, see Riding vbl.n. 1318 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 45.
[In pleno parliamento nostro tento apud Sconam 1369 Reg. Episc. Morav. 167.]
Ex deliberatione parliamenti(1) 1375 Barb. xx. 125.
The kyng … thoucht he wald … Croune his ȝoung sone and his vif At that parliament [E. parleament] 1425 Acts II. 10/1.
At Edinburgh at the ische of this parliament thidder continewit 1427 Ib. 15/1.
That the smal baronis … nede nocht to cum to parliamentis nor general consalys 1456 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) cxvi.
Efter the act of the kingis parliament 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 73.
At the parliament that last wes, to my Lady, … rede crammacy satyne for a kirtle 1477 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 68.
The quhilk is the first day of the parliament gif it hauldis a1500 Seven S. 2604.
Than happinnit the king incontinent To set a generale parliament a1500 Prestis of Peblis 65.
This king gart set ane plane parliament 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1778.
To gar proclame ane parliament Of all the thrie estaits 1540 Acts II. 383/1.
In the buke of this his present parliament 1550–1 Treas. Acc. IX. 475.
To the provestis of Linlithqw and Striveling to caus thame cum to the parliament 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 28.
The quenis factione … had appointed a parliament to be haulding at Linlythgow a1578 Pitsc. I. 52/20.
Parlieament 1600-1610 Melvill 118.
To consult whow the parliament sould nocht inleak the spirituall esteat(b) 1554 Peebles B. Rec. I. 411.
Quhan ye wair sowmand to the pairlament to Edinburgh 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS. 10.
To Jon Allat for weiting on at the pairlament at the tounes order 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III. 2 June.
To waitt on the pairliament which is to sitt this day(c) 1554 Peebles B. Rec. I. 410.
Perlament(d) c1420 Wynt. viii. 2814.
And the kyng a parlement Gert set … And thiddyr he sowmownd … The barownys off his reawte c1475 Wall. viii. 7.
Parlyment 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 76.
As the act in the parliement proportis a1561 Norvell Meroure 12 a.
When ended was this mightie parlament(2) 1456 Hay II. 92/27.
For bathe in counsale and perlement generale and in bataill place it efferis wele to a prince to have a hye voce 1471 Acts II. 100/1.
Eftir the tenor of the act of parlyament a1500 Seven S. 2624.
Heir I promit in parliament plane That he sall haf my dochter faire 1498–9 Acta Conc. II. 298.
According to the lawis and statutis of parliament 1540 Acts II. 383/1.
The samin to be actit and insert in his graces bukis of parliament 1542 Ib. 415/2.
[He] schew that thare was ane act instantlie red in faice of parliament that the haly write may be vsit in our vulgare toung (1546) Balfour Pract. 264.
In all general counsallis and courtis of parliament 1566 Fraser P. 226.
Perlyament a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xviii. 60.
That all trew folk may Without discord had parliament and sessioun 1571 Sat. P. xxvi. 118.
He being crownit in lauchfull parliament 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 30.
The assemblie of the estatis in parliament was at hand 1596 Dalr. I. 107/33.
Cheiflie in tyme of parleament quhen present ar al the thrie ordouris 1597 Skene Acts (1597) Table s.v. Parliament.
In parliament all prelates earles barronnes and free-halders suld compeir personallie 1621 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 191.
Parlaiment 1639 Acts V. 250/2.
That his hienes commissionar and estates of parliament may ryd solemnelie fra the said palace [Holyroodhouse] in parliament the said day to the parliament house at Edinburghe 1649 Ib. VI. ii. 132/2.
Quhilk efter reading in plaine parlement wes subscryved be the haill memberis 1650 Ib. 588/2.
Act … redd voyted and past in parliament a1686 Turner Mem. 143.
Threttie horse were appointed to follow me for bringing the parliaments fines as they were called 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III. 10 Apr.
Pairliament(3) 1425 Acts II. 11/2.
The king with consent of his parliament has statute and ordanit that [etc.] c1475 Wall. viii. 647.
It war but derysioun To croun him king but woice off the parlyment 1596 Dalr. II. 89/26.
This parleament lykwyse discharges al man the futball [etc.] 1650 Bk. Univ. Kirk App. xxix.
Parlment 1681 Lauder Observes 46.
Thesse [the commissioners] ryde alwayes some space alone before the rest of the parliament ryde ? 1689 Lett. (Annandale Papers, R. C. Reid transcript) 10 May.
The first thinge the pralement did they towke away the kings swprimece of the cowrche(4) 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 395.
The order of knights-baronets … being the true mean or honor betuein a barone of parlament and a knight

e. With specific reference to Parliament's judicatory function. Also transf.(1) 1398–9 Acts I. 211/2.
Ilke yhere the kyng sal halde a parlement swa that his subiectis be servit of the law 1456 Hay I. 221/25. 1466 Acta Aud. 5/2.
Becaus Walter Ogilby gert summond Schir Ja. Stewart … til a certane day in the parlment a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 266.
Mercurius thay cheisit … To be foirspeikar in the parliament 1490 Acta Conc. I. 190/1.
Ane decrett gevin in parliament of before Ib. 193/1.
And tharfore the lordis of consale contenewis the said matter … to be declarit in parliament a1500 Prestis of Peblis 782.
I desyre this to be in parliament 1498 Acta Conc. II. 181. c1500 Barounis Lawis fol. 6 b.
Fra court to court be a gre ascendand to the heid court of all that is the parliament 1503 Acts II. 254/1.
xxx or xl persons … quhilk sall haue powar as it war in ane parliament to decide and discus the said dume 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 250/2.
That thai be … exempt fra all compering to sessionis parliamentis [etc.] … and utheris courtis a1538 Abell 27 a.
Thai callit him till a parliament and thare accusit 1596 Dalr. II. 383/2. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 105.
It is lawful … to gaine say any judgement … till it be decried … be the parliament Ib. Table (1), s.v. Parliament. c1650 Spalding II. 47.
Our Scottis incendiareis sould be tryit befoir our parliament(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 796 title (H).
The taill of … the parliament of fourfuttit beistis haldin be the lyoun Ib. 958 (Bann.).
This suddane semblay … Havand the poyntis of a parliament Is maid to mar sic misdoaris as metransf. 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 55.
And all the elect and saints of God shall be judged here also (so fair is this parliament) a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 741.
That never was there such a glorious parliament holden or ridden

f. With qualifying words, specifying a particular parliament in sense a above.Blak parliament, see also 3 below. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 399.
Nocht lang efter was ane conventioun of the lordis at Perth callit the Blak Perliament [1320] 1600-1610 Melvill 28.
In … August [1571] the Blak Parliament of Stirling [was] haldin whar the second Regent was slean a1634 Forbes Rec. 423.
The first act of the 12th parliament, 1592 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 18 Oct.
Imposed be the secund session of Lauderdaills parliament c1679 Kirkton Hist. 114.
This parliament [1662] was called the drinking parliament

g. Attrib. and comb.See also Parliament-hous(e n.Parliament man, a member of Parliament. = Parliamentar n. b. 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 73.
William Henrisoun constable deputt … had … vsit extortioun of custome at the portis of this burgh, alledgeand the samyn to pertene to him as his perliament fie 1581 Reg. Privy C. III. 428.
Certane small custumes callit of auld the parliament fee or archearis wyne for all merchandice enterend within his hienes burgh quhair the court of parliament hes bene haldin for the tyme 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 275.
Dischairge … the touns customeris of all taking of doubill customes quhilk thai callit parliament feis — 1622 Bruce in Wodrow's Life of Bruce 131.
I spoke not with a parliament-man, except the Lord Kilsyth 1659 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 19 Feb.
In going to the Generall to tak his advyse who sould be parliament man — 16.. Row Cupp of Bon-Accord 3.
We must ryde in parliament order, the meanest man must goe formost — 1622 Sc. Ant. XIII. 162.
The parliament roab … of ride crimsone velvet — 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 426.
In the which parlament roll the Earle of Southerland is … ranked immediately before the Earl of Mar — 1585 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 222.
In Edinburgh, his capital parliament toun

2. a. Applied to a similar assembly in another age or country. b. The Parliament of England. Also attrib. (quasi-possess.).a. ?1438 Alex. ii. 9920.
In plane parliament He [Alexander] said [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 144/5.
Ane advocate in parlement of pape, emperour or king c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 15004.
Till Antegone oure knicht of parliament c1460 Regim. Princ. 272.
War it in France men wald mak cession hale In parliament 1538 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 471.
To ansuer in the parliament of Parisb. 1375 Barb. i. 602.
The kyng sat into parleament ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 109.
In Londoun thow swoir in parliament Ingland ten ȝeiris thow suld absent c1650 Spalding II. 273.
The kingles parliament of England 1652 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 73.
The parliament of the commonwealth of Inglandattrib. 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 186.
The skipper, looking through his prospect, discovered them to be parlament shippes 1668 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 285.
His lady and children who going to France wer totallie robbed … by the parliament ships

3. A convention; a conference; a council. 1549 Compl. 93/5.
As ȝour forbears var at the blac perliament at the bernis of Ayre Ib. 96/12.
Kyng Eduard maid ane perlament vitht in his camp 1581 Conv. Burghs I. 121.
In the conventioun or parliament of burrowes haldin … at Edinburgh 1617 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 144.
Writ to me … of all procedingis in the towns bissness and parliament

4. Parley; discussion; discourse.? Also Palemone. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2266.
Gif God geuis ȝow ane mandment I may come sone to parliament c1515 Asl. MS. I. 291/10.
Quhill thai war thus at thare parliament the schiref remembrit him of his office