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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Husbandry, n. Also: -rie, -irie, housbandrie. [ME. husbandry (15th c.), -bondrie (1362), housbondrye, housebondrie (c 1290), in various senses. Sense 1 below is Sc. only.]

1. a. The land occupied by a tenant or the tenants of a manor or estate (see Husband 2) as distinct from the demesne lands. 1398 Liber Melros 489.
My forsaide land … als wele my demaynis as husbandrys and tenandryis 1409 Reg. Great S. 407/1.]
[Totam husbandriam terrarum nostrarum de Gogare 1428 Liber Melros 520.
A plew of land … lyande in the husbandry 1479 Reg. Cupar A. I. 214.
A third part of the husbandry of Bawgrescho is let to Patrick Adamsoun for five years

b. The holding of land as a ‘husband’ (Husband 2); the letting of land to ‘husband’ tenants. c1420 Wynt. ii. 367.
In husbandry for ferme, Ilke yhere at certane terme, He set thai landys 1434 Reg. St. A. 423.
[The convent of St. Andrews] has sett … as in husbandry to the said Waltyr … thair landis of Estir Balrymonth 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 166.
To mak tenandis onder hym othyr in cotary or in husbandry as he thinkis mast profit to hym 1500 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 219.
And gif thai settis the saidis landis in husbandrye [etc.]

2. The work of a husbandman; tillage, agriculture, farming. Also fig. 1500 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 218.
The said abbot and conwent sall laubure, manuyr, and inhabyt the saidis landis in husbandrye lik as the laif of the landis besid thaim ar … lauborit 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 173.
Tyte on hys hynys gaif the greif a cry, Awaik on fut, go till our husbandry 1562-3 Winȝet II. 59/23.
Quhat ewir … in this Kirk be the husbandrie of God … is plantit 1596 Dalr. I. 33/24.
Quhair is a gret multitude of peple baith in housbandrie and nobilitie 1663 Edinb. Test. LXXI. 84 b.
Harrowes, barrowes, pleughes, & vthers belonging to thair husbandrie

3. The management of a household. 1600-1610 Melvill 20.
My father resolved to keipe my eldar brother at hame ... to lern him housbandrie and experience of the warldlie lyff