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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Restraint, n. Also: ri- and -strante; -streant, -streaint, -streincte; -strent. [Late ME and e.m.E. restreinte (c1400), -straynt (1463), OF restraint, restrainte (1315 in Greimas), f. restraindre Restrenȝe v.]

1. Control or restriction on the freedom or free movement of a person or thing; a means of restraining (a person) from a course of action.(a) 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xv.
The remembrance onely of death … is an effectuall awband of affection and restraint to sin 1649 Moray Synod 100.
Especiallie anent the restraint of vagabonds and sturdie beggars 1681 Stair Inst. i ii § 4.
Restraint hindereth man to be where, and go whither, he will. … Restraint is exercised by imprisonment … or in the hinderance of the use of things necessary for life, as meat [etc.](b) 1601 Reg. Privy C. in Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 197.
For better executioun of restreant of the course of all vther cunyie(c) 1609 Acts IV 428/2.
Where thair is na restrante of the same [religion] by the crueltie of inquisitioun

b. specif. Confinement to prison or the like, or an instance of this. 1570 Southesk MSS 722/1.
Oure lounge restreincte and detencioun heir 1658 Lamont Diary 103.
This was noised abroad to be the cause of both ther restraints

2. A prohibition. Also, to make restraint of, to prohibit.Const. of (upon) the thing or activity prohibited, also with infin. and without const.(1) 1578 Reg. Privy C. II 693.
The said restraint … sall onelie be of necessitie requisite, to all signatouris … in the caissis following 1583 Ib. III 576.
With the restraint of multitudis to entir thairin 1648 Strathbogie Presb. 87.
Concerning restraint of kirk buriallis 1675 Inverness Presb. 52.
Enquired if he … did lay a restraint upon pypeing … at lickwaks 1679 Edinb. B. Rec. X 387.
A petition … for taking af the ristraint put upon the saids persons(b) 1608 Nat. Lib. MS State 47, Sec. 91.
We ressaved your maiesteis proclamatioun anent the restrent of transporting of tymmer 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 148. 1699 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 51.
Empouring them to put ane restrent upon transporting the same 1713 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 169.
Considering that former professors was not under the forsaid restrent … they … take off and rescind the former restrent(2) 1570 Sat. P. xx 140.
The appill sweit … Quhairof was maid restraint

b. (An) embargo. 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 269.
[The Act of] restraint of the woll [to be approved in Parliament] 1603 Glasgow Weavers 86.
To mak a restreaint of all thingis quhilkis onywyse micht hindir or impeid the course of the said warke and namelie of the lynnyng yairne 1612 Ib. 87.
Ane speciall act of restreant 1639 Wemyss Chart. 226.
The restrent off coll and salt in this kingdome