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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.

Pronosticatioun, -acioun, Prognosticatio(u)n(e, n. Also: Pronunstigation. [ME and e.m.E. pronosticacion (1432–50), e.m.E. pronostication (c 1510), also prognostic- (1516) a portent, a prediction, an astrological forecast for the year, (hence) an almanac, OF pronosticacion (14th c. in Godef. Compl.), also prognostication (Cotgrave), med. L. (Eng.) pro(g)nostication- (a 1233). Cf. Prenosticatioun n.]

1. An indication of some future happening; a portent or sign. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 17782.
Sayand it [a monstrous birth] was pronosticatioun Off sum myscheiff and tressoun to the crovne 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 122.
Quhois cryis bene pronosticatioun [Ruddim. pronosticacioun] Of wyndy blastis and ventositeis Ib. i 123.
Bot to the pepill pronosticatioun [Sm. prognosticatioune] cleir Of suddane batale and of mortal wer [L. magnum portendere bellum] 1533 Bell. Livy I 85/11.
Without the foulis had schawin ane notabill pronosticacioun for the sickir felicite thareeftir following 1558-66 Knox II 161.
It may chance be a prognostication that the Guisians blude can nocht haif lang rest within this realme

2. An almanac containing astrological or other forecasts, also the dates of fairs.Also in this sense in the later dial. of the north-east in the reduced forms prognostic, prognosty. 1579 Misc. Bann. C. II 196.
Tua prognosticationes for euir, price of the pece, xl d. 1603 Ib. 236. 1643 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 64. 1667 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 245.
That Alexander Gray, chopman, had latlie brocht home about ane thousand prognostications 1674 Cunningham Diary 33, etc.
To Gavin Moodie for his prognostication, 0.6 1686 Fountainhall Decis. I 424.
The Privy Council gave him the right to print all the prognostications in Edinburgh 1696 Lanark B. Rec. 261.
That ye goe to … the wryters of the Prognosticatione at Edinburgh, Abbertein and Glasgow, that mark in ther prognostications, that the saids fairs are to be holden as follows [etc.]