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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Precinct, Precink(e, n. Also: presinct, presin(c)k(e. [e.m.E. precinct(e (1485), precynct (1494), presinct (1585), med. L. præcinctum.]

1. a. An area surrounded by real or imaginary boundaries, a delimited area. b. The area enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building. Also plur. in sing. sense.Passing into next sense.sing. (a) 1602 Colville Paraenese Ep. 37.
Abhorring to hurd up so pretieux a iouell [sc. the Catholic religion] vithin the precinct of a realm 1666 S. Ronaldshay 53.
If any persone henceforward sall presume to sitt within the precinct of the pulpit … save the minister himself 1677 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 112.
The toune of Aberdeine … had a precinct and localitie designed to them for payment of their 1200 punds yeirlie 1680 Melrose Reg. Rec. 94.
The monestery and presinct of Melrois(b) 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii 439.
I … in my mynd … did think, How till elaps from this precink, Quhairin I wes inuolued 1613 Crim. Trials III 251.
Burning and distroying of the hall, kitching, and remanent office-houssis within the precink of the clois of Clwnes 1614 Ayr Chart. 147.
The tenementis … foundit and biggit within the precink of the … merches thairof 1662 Douglas Corr. 379.
The deceast Lord of Anguse bought the abot's house and precinct of Halyrudhouseplur. 1587 Acts III 433/1.
The biggingis and ȝairdis … as thai ly and ar situat within the precinctis and clausuris of thair places 1638 Justiciary Cases I 293.
Persewing of thame … be way of hamesuckin within the said palace and presinkis thairof 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 176.
And in possession of ane yaird within the presinckes of Dundrennan

2. A region surrounding or attached to and under the authority of a centre of civil or ecclesiastical administration; also, an administrative division or district, more generally.

b. A name given to the administrative districts of the Scottish customs after 1656.See T.C. Smout Sc. Trade on the Eve of the Union (1963) 34 f. 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS 13 Jan.
Anent the exonering of the presinctis of the charterhous of all taxatiounis 1620 Aberd. Council Lett. I 185.
Thay can haiff no libertie justly belanging … to the counsell of Aberdene within the precink grantit thairto be his maiesties nobill progenitor as to ane royall burghe [etc.] 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 86.
All chapellanries within the presink of the prowestre … ar inclosit within the bosome of the prowestis prowisioune 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 158.
I … sall nott sufer no guids to come ashor att our port nor no creck within our presink 1662 Lamont Diary 156.
Bot they were no more to be called a presbetrie, bot brethren of the precinke 1663 Forbes Baron Ct. 237.
The bailȝie did decerne and ordaine sufficient wnderstanding men … for dicyding contraversies … with in the respective parishones and presinctis 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 154.
That each royall burgh … appoynt ane honest man … to visit all herrings exported out of that presinct