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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.

Prot(h)onotar, n. Also: prot(h)er-; proth-; protin- and -nothar, -noter, -notore; -niter. [Late ME prothonotur (c1460), -nothayr (1494), obs. F. prothonataire (1390 in Wartburg; mod. F. protonotaire), late L. prōtonotārius (med. L. also protho-), f. the Gk. Cf. late ME and e.m.E. prot(h)onotary.] A ‘protonotary apostolic’.Also, protonothar apostolic.‘The title ‘protonotary apostolic’, originally given to a member of the college of twelve (formerly seven) prelates whose function was to register the papal acts, etc., soon became a title of honour conferred somewhat loosely on pleaders in the court of Rome, on papal envoys and others concerned with the more legal side of the papal curia’ (Fife Sheriff Ct. 303).(1) 1491 Treas. Acc. I 172.
To the king to play at the cartis with … the prothonotar 1494 Acta Conc. I 331/1.
Prothonoter 1498 Ib. II 216.
In presens of the lordis comperit ane reverend fader in God, Andro Forman, prothonotar and prior of May 1498 Reg. Privy S. I 33/2.
A letter of power to the prothonothar to assouer … al Inglismen 1500 Acta Conc. II 416.
The accions of strangearis and the accions of the prothonotaris alanerlye 1505 Treas. Acc. III 159.
To the Prothonotar of Napules 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 56.
Safer as he is … prothonotar and cubicular and familiar to the papis halynes 1524–5 Ib. 216. a1538 Abell 112b.
Ane proterniter wes callit of surname Forman Ib.
Prothernoter 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 72.
Prothonoter 1570 Leslie 63.
The Paip … send ane protonotar callit Forman in Scotland(2) 1520 Reg. Soltre 91.
Maister Iohnne Dyngwaile prothonotar apostolic provest of the Trinite College 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 175.
Maister Robert Foremane prothonotore appostolat & commendatour of Pettinweme 1527 Reg. Privy S. I 565/1.
M. Gilbert Straithauchin, persone of Fethircarn, prothonotar apostolic 1531 Red Bk. Menteith II 399.
Prothnotar(b) 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. I xl.
Mr. John Dingwall, protinnoter apostolick