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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sessio(u)ner, n. Also: sessionar, saysowner. Sessio(u)n(e n. 3.

1. A member of the Court of Session. 1592 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 30.
The lordis commissioneris, artikillis, sessioneris, and vtheris 1596–7 Wodrow's Life of Bruce 169.
We take us not to his majesty, neither to the nobility of Scotland … we take us only to the sessioners 1610 Reg. Privy C. VIII 613.
Ordinarie Lordis of Sessioun sall weare a purpour cloathe gowne, faced all aboute with reid crimsone satine … according to the modell and forme of a gowne sent unto you to be a patrone for all gownis of ordinarie sessionaris 1657 Balfour Ann. II 129.
The king … commanding that from hencefurth [sc. 1626] no judge or sessioner should be a priuey counseller, the Lord Chanceler onlie excepted(b) 1606 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 39.
Pronunsing thretnynges to all cownsallowris and saysow[ne]ris that war att Lethe tow

2. A member of a kirk-session; an elder. 1591 Elgin Rec. II 15.
Thaj ar commandit of the sessioneris to present the tabill of the Loird on Sonday nixt to communicat 1597–8 Elgin Rec. II 62.
Quhatsumeuir persoun … giffis thame selues to schamefull … lauching within the kirk … salbe puneist be the discretioun of the sessioneris 1609 Kinghorn Kirk S. 16.
To intimate … that Thomas Craige can not get ane testimoniall fra the minister and sessioners he cam fra a1651 Calderwood VII 364.
Ye may not lawfullie command me silence … ye are but a sessioner heir, sir, ye may not raigne over us 1631 S. Leith Rec. 21.
Gif ane of the sessiouners be absent without live asked they sall pay ane unlaw c1650 Spalding I 234.
Ilk minister haveing ane reulling elder chosin out of the worthiest of the sessionaris of his presbitry 1650 Strathbogie Presb. 143.
Ther vas ane good harmonie of amitie and concord betuixt the minister and his sessioneris in punishing all kynd of vyce c1655 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 212.
James Weir a Quaker compeired and wold not discover his head nor give reverence to the sessioners nor wold declair quhether his childrein war baptised 1681 S. Leith Rec. 140.
Sessioners are appointed to speak with painters to paint our horologe board 1682 Cloud of Witnesses (1778) 193.
They … now are sessioners to this curate 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 6 Dec.
He thought fitt to keep sessions with these who formerlie wer sessioners, and by takeing in some honest men of the paroch as assistants … that so vice may be curbed