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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prejug(e, Prejudg(e, v. Also: prejughe, praejudge. P.p. prejugit etc., prejudyit; also prejudgen. [L. and med. L. praejūdicāre to judge before or prematurely, to prejudice, injure, and cf. F. préjuger (16th c. in Littré) only in sense 3, e.m.E. prejudge (1605) only in sense 3. In senses 1 and 2, only Sc.]

1. tr. a. With personal obj.: To occasion detriment or financial or other loss to, to affect unfavourably, to harm the interests of, to prejudice, compromise, by some action.Also const. in, anent, tuiching (a right, interest etc.) or in (the amount of the loss), and transf.(1) active 1531 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 44.
Quhatever the jugis decernit … suld nocht prejug hym nor his rycht thairto c 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 309.
That the setting of the said fewis … sall nocht preiuge nor hurt the said erl 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 248. 1584–5 Waus Corr. 323.
Yeit I will be verry laith that my deid thair anent sall prejudge my selff our far, excep vpoune ane ground of ane greit commodatie 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 299.
That exceptioun of the law that the decreit of ane inferior judge can not prejudge the soverainn 1600 Glasgow B. Rec. I 206. 1606 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 2.
Preiughe 1614 Inverness Rec. II 127.
Gif ane magistrat prejudge ane nichtbor be his office or vthair wayis 1622-6 Bisset I 103/6. 1627 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 101.
He can not preiudge your lordschip becaus I haif fesant that naill be his acquittance vpon [etc.] 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 385.
Becaus thay bear not burdenes and prejudges thair nichtbor burghes be macking of burgesses who uses tred bot macks not residence with thame 1653 Misc. Spald. C. I 19.
Prejudge 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 34.
I cannot be frie too impart it … because it may prejudge us as I shall mack knowen at meiting 1678 Moray Synod 170.
A loaft that did prejudg him [the minister] and ecclipse the light from his dask 1684 Decis. Lords F. 60.
The granter could not prejudge his successors by taxing the waird and marriage, which were casualitiespassive(a) 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 257.
Be quhilkis commissioun and letters the saidis partiis findis thame selffis prejugeit 1580 Conv. Burghs I 103.
The commissioneris of burrowis … fynding thame greitlie preiugit be the inlaik of ane generall buke 1582–3 Perth B. Ct. 30 Jan.
Vnderstanding him self to be gretumlie hurte and preiugit be his former consent and renunciatioun 1583–4 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 328.
Preiudgeit 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV 17. 1587 Conv. Burghs I 255.
The commissioneris … vnderstanding thame selues and thair burrowis … to have bene gretumlie preiugitt be the customeris … in nochtt being … comptrollet of thair comptis 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V 232.
The gentillmen of the cuntrey ar prejudget, quha hes thair guidis nychtlie stollin fra thame 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 152.
I haife beine haiffelie hurt and prejugit be the consale and opinionis of diverse personis 1607 Acts IV 374/1.
The ȝouth quha be occasioun of the pest … being oft … changeit to diuers scholis … be alteratioun of the forme of teacheing ar haillely prejudgeit 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 757.
That thay ar very far prejudgeit and maid unable to pay his majesteis dewyteis 1620 Aberd. Council Lett. I 182.
Be that meanes our nichtbours micht be michtelie preiudgit and thair goods … rested from thame 1622 Elgin Rec. I 241.
The course of justice … is … shaikin lowse, … his majesteis goode subjectis ar havelie interest and prejudgeit, malefactouris are overseene and [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I 267/8. 1630 Acts Sederunt (1740) 3.
Libertie grantit to all personis quho might be prejudgit by the saidis prescriptiouns a1634 Forbes Rec. 379.
The brethrein in the north finding themselves speciallie prejudged be the said delay 1639 Traquhair in Spalding I 227. 1640 Falkirk Baron Ct. 20 March.
Oppressing of him be setting of ane hous … to ane cottar quhairby he is preiudgit 1665 Cramond Kirk S. II 16 Aug.
That these who sitts upon the lofts may no wise be prejudgit, but may … heir and see the minister 1678 Moray Synod 171.
[It was] regrated the kirk bell was riven and that the parioche was prejudged therby 1687 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 222.
The neighbors near to the said court of guard were compleaning they wold be greatly prejudged by the making a stay rooff upon the whole fabric therof(b) 1623 Crim. Trials III 551.
Not onlie we, bot the gentlemen of the cuntrie, who ar summoned vpoun the assise, ar verie far preiudgen and troublit, and the course of iustice is interruptit and hinderit(2) 1533 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 94.
Protestand ad the samyn preiug nocht hym … in the rycht of the saidis landis 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 308.
That na act maid … suld ony wyse prejudge him in his office and jurisdictioun 1596 Bruces of Airth App. xlv.
The pure laboraris … will be wrakit, and owre liegis prejudyit in the common benefeit thairof 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 113. 1623 Denmylne MSS. in Highland P. III 316.
The merchantis … ar preiudged in the payment of the exsyse 1693 Cramond Kirk S. III 11 April.
That Barntoun is prejudged and lased in his right by the alteration of Cramonds seatt(3) 1551 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 155.
That this gift hurt nor preiuge nocht the fermerer … twicheing his rycht of [etc.] 1558 Acts II 508/1.
Oure consent to the sade coronatioun … mycht habill preiuge ws … anent the sade successioun 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 171.
That samekle dewitie … suld nocht prejuge hir anent hir rycht 1570–1 Balfour Pract. 207. 1571 Crim. Trials I ii 28.(4) 1674 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 379.
[Jean Bell said that] … the said defender … delyvered … butt 11 thrave, and it being ane deir yeir, shoe was prejudged in the soum of 4 lib. Scotts 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIV 774.
That the said Johne Miller was prejudged in the number of threttie bolls of peis and beenes(5) transf. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 134.
Take tent … that there be a mutuall consent, that thy doings prejudge not thy heart, that thy mouth prejudge not thy heart

b. To deprive (a person) of rights, privileges, benefits or advantages. 1583 Conv. Burghs I 167.
The commissioneris foirsaidis fynding thame selffis and thair estait gretumlie preiugitt of thair liberteis be the lordis of … counsall 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 5 Aug.
To preiuge the said Agnes of [hir] priuelege & commoditie foirsaid a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 371.
How greatlie he was prejugeit of his rents in the ilis of Scotland 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 73/7 (R).
Præiudge 1599 Misc. Spald. C. V 374. 1609 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 419.
To misknowe and altogidder to prejudge his maiestie of his rycht of patronage 1611 Stirling B. Rec. I 127.
Prejuget a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 203. a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 113.
The church … would be more frustrated and prejudged of the benefit of such a mans ministry Ib. 195.
Therefore be diligent and stedfast, lest by your declining ye be prejudged of your crown 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 124.
To prejudge and depryve the said citie … of there just … right and intres in and to the said church 1663 Mackenzie Affairs 100.
Nor can a law so provide, but a subject may, by private pactions, prejudge himself of the benefit of the law 1669 Jus Populi 39. 1703 Lanark B. Rec. 270.
That they height the common loft behinde so that these who sitt ther be not prejudged of hearing

c. With non-material obj.: To detract from, compromise, harm, impair, invalidate (a claim, right, privilege, settlement etc.).Occas., to do so by way of prior judgement or by taking decision in advance of the proper time.(1) 1563–4 Reg. Privy C. I 266.
Providing that the persute … prejuge, nor mak na derogatioun to, the effect and strenth of this present assurance 1558-66 Knox II 456.
That our voitting prejudge nocht the lybertie of the Generall Assembly 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 37.
Ony thing done this day sould nocht prejuge my Lord of Caithnes heretabill titill 1579 Ib. III 177.
To suspend his hienes handis on making ony gift … of the prelaciis abonewrittin … quhilk may hinder and prejudge the dissolutioun of the same 1586 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 468.
It wes neuir meanet … that this … league … suld any wayes preiuge the amitie we haif with France 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 295.
And they would not pas their bounds nor prejudge the liberties of the saids regalities c1590 Fowler II 39/4.
Quhilk infirmityes notwithstanding sal na way preiudge thair saluatioun 1593 Montg. Suppl. 321. 1602 Colville Paraenese 132.
Vhilk crymes … suld … preiug nether the place nor the persons of other ministers a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 29.
In so farr as he hes allreadie … bound himself to prejudge and limit the estait of his benefice in not reserueing a sufficient mantinance for him and his successors 1633 Peebles Gleanings 204.
Provyding the submission sall not prejudge the said burghe their present possessioune of the said hill 1654 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 325.
That this our new grant … shall nawayes innovate or prejudge any former right 1660 St. A. Presb. 76.passive 1582 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 162.
Quhairthrow … the libertie and fredome of the said burgh sall be prejugit 1604 Conv. Burghs II 189.
That the ancient … imwniteis, and exemptiouns fra customeis … be na wayis … preiudgeit be the said treatie c1610 Melville Mem. (1683) 55.
That by his ruine … her affairs be prejudged 1616 Stirling B. Rec. I 144.
The ladyll dewtie … is defraudit and preiudgit be not presenting of the same [malt] to the mercatt 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I 256. 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS. III xcvii.
The common lawes of this realme … which if they be innovated or prejudged, … such confusion would ensue as [etc.] 1648 Strathbogie Presb. 88.
That by Saboth dayes buriallis the publict worship be not impedit nor prejudged 1669 Justiciary Rec. I 320.
The pursuit … cannot be prejudged by any composition given to the party lesed 1672 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 282.
That the vpholding of the fabrick of the kirks … wold be greatumlie damnified and prejudgit 1673 Curiosities Charta Chest 17.
The manufactur of whyt lace or pearling made of threed … was thereby much prejudged and impaired 1676 Cramond Kirk S. II 5 Nov.
The session considereing how much the publick schoole at the church is prejudged by privat schooles [etc.] 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xvii §6.(2) 1582 Perth B. Ct. 1 June.
With executorialis of hornyng poinding and varding to follow thairon as efferis provyding the ane preiuge nocht the vther 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 138.

d. gen. To detract from, interfere with or impinge on so as to impair or harm. 1596–7 Crim. Trials II 7.
It was nevir his maiesteis … intentioun to impung or preiudge the samin [church courts] 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 466.
Let everie days lessoun be said before they skaill … that it prejudge not thair morning pense a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 70.
Not to let our zeal wear away our patience, nor our patience prejudge our zeal

2. To damage or injure physically. 1664 Rothesay B. Rec. 82.
That nane cast elding in the eist commoune … or uther fewall to prejudge the pastour 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 106.
This weed does … very greatly prejudge the oats 1683 Garden Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 137.
In summer we see abundance of sea nettles … their substance is like the white of an egg, but by far more strong … it prejudges the hands if much touched 1684 Edinb. City Archives Letters Vol. II (27).
I will … help the damm dyke … and cause William have hands ready to putt off the ice that probably may prejudge it most 1734 Stirling B. Rec. II 230.
To strike ane entry … throw the said wall … which would not in the least prejudge the wall

b. To cause interference or impediment to, to impede (a building, passageway or the like). 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 234.
To inlarge the saids chops in such maner as nether the lights of the old kirk nor the south door … to the same be prejudged 1687 Ib. XI 198.
The supplicant to put up dorments below the plaister of the flooring … that the bibliotheck be onnawayes prejudged

3. a. To pass judgement on, in advance of trial; to take a prior decision on. b. To anticipate, expect. c. To take a prior decision (const. noun clause).a. (1) 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 170.
That, befoir he be prejudgit thairof, he may have the ordour of the law observit to him 1587 Acts III 461/1.
That the sute of the accusare be not tane pro confesso and the pairtie accuisit preiugeit in ony sorte befoir he be convictit be lauchfull tryell 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 175.
His own conscience, quhilk in this life prejudged him, shall condemn him there(2) 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 131.
Yet I speake not this to prejudge his sone benefice for the Assembly may consider of itb. 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 48.*
Gif God grant na hastier succes nor my sorrowful hart prejugisc. 1579 Reg. Privy S. VII 322/1.
Supercedand … the said Peter of all … imprisoning of his persoun for the det foirsaid quhill the first day of November … to the effect that he may in the meintyme travell … to prejuge quhairwith to outred the samin det