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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Divisioun, -ione, n. Also: dywysioun, dyvysyown, dyvisione, divisyon, -vitioun. [ME. divisioun (Gower), divysyon, etc., OF. division, L. dīvīsio. Cf. Devisioun.]

1. The action or result of dividing. c1420 Wynt. i. p. 8.
The dywysiownys of this tretis 1456 Hay I. 4/14.
On the quhilkis four partis the divisioun of oure buke salbe foundit Ib. 146/27.
Na … was divisioun maid of his wageing, bot in blok and somme 1482 Edinb. Chart. 154.
Ane as all … coniunctlie and seueralie, renunciand the benefit of diuision a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1066.
The vale [= veil] than trymblit throw diuisioun c1515 Asl. MS. I. 153/1.
Heir followis the diuisioun of all the warld callit the cart c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1797.
He … did thame none vther harmis Except of toungis diuysioun

b. Formal partition of land or other property between or among persons. c1420 Wynt. iii. Prol. 31.
The dywysiownys off it [Brytane] that he Made syne to hys sonnys thre 1480 Acta Conc. 66/1.
The … landis … assignit to the chemys of Medope the tyme of the divisioune & departising 1490 Lennox Mun. 135.
Anentis the diuisione and departisyng of the sade Elesabethis parte … of the landis 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 162.
To dele … be castine of cavillis, equale porcions and diuisione, … the five merkis worth of land 1551 Prot. Bk. R. Lumsdane 18 b.
Twa merk land … that he aucht, and suld be kennit thairto as vse is, be diuisioun of cawillis to be cassin thairvpone 1575 Rec. Earld. Orkney 137.
That thai suld mak equall partising and divitioun of the talis, yairdis and fredomes pertening athir of the saidis tennementis

c. Breve of divisioun, a brieve of Chancery providing for the dividing of lands between heirs-portioners. 1478 Acta Aud. 67.
The lordis … ordanis the said partijs tak breuis of diuision, or ony vther coursable breuis of our souuerain lordis chapell 1562 Charter (Reg. H.) 11 April.
Ane breve of diuisioun of our souerane ladeis chapell … ffor deuiding and pairting of the saidis landis betuix the saidis portionaris 1551 Treas. Acc. X. 43.
Maister Andro send to Drumfreis to caus Johnne Hammylton, maiser, desert the court sett thair for serving of the breves of divisioun upoun the airis of Hereslandis 1622-6 Bisset I. 12/15.
The procese of the breve of perambulation, the procese of the breve of divisioun

2. Division into parties or factions; dissension. c1420 Wynt. viii. 1900.
This tyme wes gret dyssentyown In Scotland and dyvysyown Ib. 1915. 1456 Hay I. 20/32.
Than set he him to mak divisioun bath in the kirk be scismes and othir wayis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 118/14.
Na realme may lang stand na endure with discord and diuisioune c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxi. 13.
Quhilk … daly caussis grit dissentioun Amang ws now and als diuisioun 1535 Stewart 37754.
In sic diuisioun lang and mony da This kinrik wes diuydit into tua 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 68.
It is said heir that ye ar all the caus of the hayll brek and dewysyon … in Scotland a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcvii. 65.
England is glaid quhone it is tald Of Scottis the diuisioun c1615 Chron. Kings 35.
The gritt dewisiounes amangis thame 1661 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 473.
In fomenting the vnhappie divisiounes that was amongs the tredis

3. Distinction, difference. c1420 Ratis R. 1345.
Tyme is than of dyuisione … Be-twex vertwis and vicious thing Ib. 1651. 1500 Lanc. 1648.
That iustice be elyk With-out diuisione baith to pur and ryk