Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Acquittance, n. Also: ac(c)quitance, acquhit-, acquyt(t)-, aquitt-, aquytt-, aqwytance, aq-, acquittans. [ME. acquitance, -aunce (14th c., later acquittance), OF. acquitance, f. acquiter Acquit v.] A discharge from a debt or obligation; a writing expressing this.14.. Acts I. 372/2 (the law of acquyttance). 1475 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 10 (the sowme of acquytance and quyteclame). 1482 Acta Aud. 106/2 (lettres of assedatioune and acquittance). 1486 Lennox Mun. 127 (ane acquittans of the said sovm). 1506 Liber Aberbr. 369 (the diuers acquittance tharuppon gevin). 1539 Reg. Privy S. II. 452/2 (fals instrumentis and acquittances). 1595 Conv. Burghs II. 17 (ane sufficient acquittance of the extent). 1630 Bamff Chart. 225 (be this my acquittans).