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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Utter hous(e, n. Also: uttir-, wtter-, out(t)er- and -hows(e. [Ut(t)er adj. 1 and Hous n.¹ 2.] The Outer House of the Court of Session. = Outer adj. (4), and cf. Inner adj. 3 b.For further examples, see Acts Sederunt II 36-7. 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 41 (see Inner adj. 3 b).
Utter hous c1600 Sc. Hist. Rev. XIX 267.
The other greate roome where the atturnies and clyentes doe stand … which howse is called the utter howse, and the other (where the whole judges sitt) the inner howse 1604 Acts Sederunt ii 37.
The three ordiner clerkis be thair courses sall serve in the Utter-hous a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 26.
Act anent maissers: that nane of them stand within the inner barr of the wtter hous bot [etc.] 1609 Acts Sederunt i 65.
Mr. Robert Stewart … wes, for his misbehavior in the Utterhows, acted that during his lifetyme he sould not enter in the Innerhowse nor the inner bar of the Utterhows 1622-6 Bisset I 146/17.
Uttirhouse 1622-6 Bisset I 146/28.
The lordis of the uttirhouse suld nocht be called to voit in the innerhouse 1622-6 Bisset I 154/28.
The maisseris sall suffer na erlis lordis baronis, ladyis or uther men or wemen of honour, to have ony accese, within the inner bar of the utterhouse a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 24.
The lord in the wtter hous shall not be called ben at the desire of the parties, bot in such caises as the lords shall think expedient 1661 Stirling Common Good 7b.
Mending the glas windowis in the counselhouse & utterhouse 1670 Aberd. Council Lett. V 11.
That actione against the old toune inhabitants for chaingeing their weeklie mercat and demolisheing their weighe hous hes bein fullie disput in the utterhous befor the lord Newbyth and is takine to interloquitur 1672 Acts VIII 81/2.
Aftir the dilators are discussed in the Outter house, and a great avisandum maid by the Ordinary in the Outter house a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) App. 35.
There is an outer house and an inner [in the Supreme Court of Judicature]. In the outer there is a bench where one of the senatours sits a week … who hears all causes originallis