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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.

Prest(e)-, Preisthed(e, -heid, n. Also: priest-, prist- and -heide, -heed, -head, and prestede. [North. ME preisthede (Cursor M.), late ME presthed (c 1400), e.m.E. prestheade, presthed: cf. Prest(e)had(e and Prestehoode.]

1. a. The office of a priest or (Roman Catholic) clergyman; ministry, espec. in the Roman Catholic Church. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 347.
For to thé, fadir Zozima, Afferis sic prayere to ma For thu has honoure of presthed c1450 Cr. Deyng (S.T.S.) 246.
The ordour of presthed 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 116.
[They] gert the sayd frer John Jamson swer be his presthed that [etc.] 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 90.
And of thir sammyne Schir Niniane deponit one aytht be his prestheid 1531 Aberd. B. Rec. in Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 362.
Aye and qll the said Patrik be premovit to the order of prestheid 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3880.
That na b[i]shops mak teichours … Except men … for preistheid qualefeit c1552 Id. Mon. 4844.
Thay … That takis preistheid … suld [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 233. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 149/9.
The preistheid and oblatioun of Melchisedech prefigurate the preistheid of oure salueour and the sacrifice of the mess 1562-3 Winȝet I 20/25.
We … als be al power geuin to mony of vs be the auctoritie of preisthed, … chargeis ȝou [etc.] 1580 Conf. Faith in Facs. Nat. MSS III lxx.
We detest and refuse the wsurped authoritie of that Romane Antichrist … his diwilishe mes, his blasphemous preisthead, his prophane sacrifice [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 232/36.
In fulfilling the office of preistheid Ib. II 223/1.
Wilȝem Louthien preist … is … depriuet of his dignitie of preistheide

b. Applied to Christ: see Prest(e n. 3. a1400 Leg. S. xiii 70.
In the ewangel, … He treittis of Cristis presthede 1533 Gau 36/6.
S. Paul writis throw al the epistil to the Hebreis of His halie preistheid and sacrifis 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 107.
Concerning the eternall preistheid of Christ Iesus 1588 King Cat. 110.
Our lord Iesus Christ … be nature the onlie Prince of the priestheed of God

2. a. The priests or clergy collectively; the priesthood; the priestly order. a1400 Leg. S. ii 463.
A, Rowme … Of kinge and presthed the gud citte Thu art callit Ib. 628.
To Jerusalem … To the prince of our presthed Ib. xl 332.
The bischope … wes … noyt … That haly kirk suld sclaunderit be Or prestede c1420 Wynt. i 482.
Off Sem … Presthed [E. Preisthed] come befor all othir 1456 Hay II 66/28.
Knychthede is honourit abufe all ordre that ever was next prestehede 1490 Irland Mir. II 71/15.
This sacrament of ordinacioun of prestheid and bischopis c1515 Asl. MS I 329/7.
Ihesus … left power in erd to presthed to absolȝe man fra syn a1578 Pitsc. II 68/14.
He hath maid ws the kinglie preistheid 1588 King Cat. 109 b.
S. Cornelius Pap … ascendet throu all degreis of religion vnto the highest degree of pristhed

b. The clergy of a pagan religion. a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 61.
& of thar prestede he had hade, Bot seruice til ydolis he made 1533 Bell. Livy I 48/5.
This ordour of preisthede [L. oriundum sacerdotium] was … nocht vncouth to the pepill of Albane

3. Attrib. 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III 44.
The mort stand contenand thre capis dekyn and subdekyn and preistheid