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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.

Primat(e, n. Also: primatt, primait. [ME and e.m.E. prymate (13..) a leader, primat(e (Layamon) chief bishop, also premate (1451), F. primat (12th c. in Littré), med. L. primas, -atis (c 730 in Latham) a magnate or noble, also primatus (c 793) a primate, chief bishop, f. late L. prīmās, -āt-, adj. of the first rank, chief, excellent.]

1. A person of the first rank, a leader or chief. c1475 Wall. (1570) iii 439.
Thocht thai him pleisit as primate [MS a prince] or king

b. The head of a religious movement (appar. with allusion to next sense). 1559 Q. Kennedy in Misc. Wodrow Soc. 267.
Because he [Willock] wes chosin primat of thair religioun in this realme and I wes bot ane meyne man in our estait: swa that thair wes nane qualifiet to ressone with him bot my Lord of Sanct Androis

2. The chief or metropolitan bishop (chiefly, of a country).(1) 1531 Reg. Dunferm. 362.
James Archibischop of Sanctandrois primat and legat of Scotland 1536 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 131. 1537 St. A. Formulare II. 174 (see Legat-nait n.).
Primate 1545 Wemyss Chart. 171.
We, Dauid, … Cardinall Archbischope of Sanctandrois, primate, legate nate and de latere of all Scotland 1551 Hamilton Cat. 1 (see Legat-nait n.).
Primat 1562-3 Winȝet I 19/17.
Ȝit he vsurpit not the auctoritie of the hie bischope in Hierusalem, as ȝe do at this present, of the Primat of Scotlande in Edinburgh 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 224/2. 1569 Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lix.
Primat and legat of our realme 1596 Dalr. I 37/3.
In Fife, mairouir, sittis the primat of the realme 1610 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 1079.
George Archbishop of Sanct Andrews, primat and metropolitan of our kingdom 1666 Glasgow Burgesses 176 (see Metropolitan(e adj. and n. 3).
Primait 1684 Glasgow B. Rec. III 348.
Archbishop Burnet, now primat and metrapolitan of Scotland(2) c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. fol. 60.
They being set on be Lad, Primate of Canterbury(3) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 550.
The Archebischop of Sanctandrus, Iames Betoun, Chancellare and primate in power pastorall 1622-6 Bisset I 88/28.
To all metropolitanis … of the kingdome of Scotland, archebischopis and primattis, borne legattis and bischopis [etc.]