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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.

Previlege, Prevelege, n. Also: prevy-, previe-, praevi-, prewi-, prewy-, preivi-, preive-, prewe-, prewa-, prew- and -leg, -llege, -ledge, -leig(e, -leidge, -liege, -lag(e, -llage, -lache, -laige, -lidge; plur. also -legeis, -ledgeis. [ME and e.m.E. prevylege (14–15th c.), prevalege (15th c.), var. of Privilege.] = Privilege n. in various senses.Also, in Leg. S., construed as a plur. without inflection, and ? occas. also as a sing. with plur. form (but perh. merely by interpretation of an ‘otiose’ MS flourish as the abbrev. for the noun plur. ending).

1. A special right conferred, an immunity, a concession; also, an entitlement more generally.In plur. also = b. a1400 Leg. S. i 177.
This he held preuilege thre: Ane, of the appostolis prince wes he Ib. v 4.
Foure prewilege Ib. xxii 790.
Specialis prewylege thre c1420 Wynt. vii 2638.
And thare gert he Hys prewalagys [W. preuiliegis] all renewyd be 1456 Hay I 14/11.
The quhilk emperour … sa mony grete previlegis gave to the kirk Ib. 238/30.
And ȝit have thai [pilgrims] ma previlegis for thai suld nouthir pay toll na [etc.] Ib. 130/27. 1468 Acts II 92/1.
This preuilege [sc. of paying at the former valuation of money] till endur to thaim quhill [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS 46/20.
And thai vrisonis ar of gret preuilegis Ib. 47/12.
The sanctis that has singulare preuilegis grantit to thaim be God Id. Mir. I 132/3. 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
To caus the kyng our soverane lord be nocht hurt in his prevylegis and faculteys 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 109.
Laufully replegit and admitit to the previlaigis and fredom of Edinburgh 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II 191.
As contrar the tennour of the said cheptour prewelege grantit to ws c1550-c1580 Art of Music 36 b.
The musicianis … haid maid it lesum to tham to bruik and joys the first preveleig of vocalis in all modulationis a1578 Pitsc. II 237/27.
Preweledgeis 1599 Aberd. Council Lett. I 80.
Nather can I consider how any sic preivilege can be grantit … without [etc.] Ib. 81.
Previleges 1599 Conv. Burghs II 48.
Preuelegeis 1604 Ib. 189.
Prewledgeis 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 18.
Previledgis 1631 Misc. Spald. C. II 227.
Or if there be ony vther previledge or casualitye thairby implyed 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 45.
Praeuilidges ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 8.
Because such a preiveleidge and right [sc. of holding an assembly] belonges to the Churche by divyne right

b. Privileges, collectively; privileged position; prerogative. 1456 Hay I 95/20.
Quhethir a servand suld joys the previlege that his maister has lang joisit 1469 Acts II 94/2.
That the fredome of haly kirk be obseruit … in all ymunit preuelege and fredome 1490 Irland Mir. I 74/22.
And than thai in thar persounis had tynt the state and preuilage of originale justice Ib. 126/5.
Without gret help, preuilege and autorite of God c 1535 Lennox Mun. II 349.
Twiching the prewileig and fredom of the kyrk of Glasgw 1549 Banff Ann. I 25.
Thir ar the flyscharis … quhilks sall pay for thair previleg to the commone gud [etc.] 1561 Inverness Rec. I 62.
His ayth made to furth setting of the libertte of this bruch prewyllage thairof 1570 Digest Justiciary Proc. G 47.
That the repleagiatioun thairof suld navayes preiudge the kingis prewillege 1577 Glasgow B. Rec. I 59.
[To] jois the benefeit and previlege of ane burges aire 1584 Acts III 364/1.
Previeleige 1609 Inverness Rec. II 61.
To … exers all maner of freidom, preveleig, as becummeth ane frie burges to do ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 35.
Being a judicatorye grownded upon no knowne law nor preiveleidge, … was [etc.]

c. With dependent constructions and defining terms. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 207.
Hed I that plesand prevelege to part quhen me likit Arundel MS 285/199.
Into the quhilk the sone of God … confirmit the preuilage of his lufe 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II 44.
With preuilege of brewing, lonyng and pasturing to thair catell 1559 Inverness Rec. I 35.
The preuillege of the forstallaris of Suderland, Cathnes and Ross set to Jasper Waus be the prowest [etc.] 1562 Aberd. B. Rec. I 353.
Sic euidentis … of the townis liberteis and preuelegis as thai think maist necessar to be confirmit be the quenis grace for the commond weill of this burght, and speciallie the preuelege of the doyn getting of the custum of certane skynnis a1578 Pitsc. I 14/27.
That he had prewiledge of the king to dessyede all matteris within the boundis foirsaid

2. A privilege granted by the Pope. 1546 Acts II 480/1.
How hir grace … hes had ane preuilege and indulte of the sege apostolik to nominat quhat personis thai pleisit best to quhatsumeuir bischoprik [etc.]

3. A document conferring a right. Also letter of previlege.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1015 (Bann.).
Lat him ga luke and reid ȝour preuilege Ib. 1058. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2048 (B).
Wait ye not weill how I am nemmit … Schir I sall schaw ȝow for my wage My pardonis and my prevelage(2) 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 69.
Ony chartoris euidentis or lettres of preuilegis … concernand his erildome

4. a. Priviledged delay, grace. 1529 Wigtown B. Ct. 220 b.
Batht the parteys is content to superseyd the breyf … as that peremtovre daye that it suld be fyrst & to haif the prevelache

b. In Edinburgh High School: A holiday. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 353.
Bot the scollers replyit … thay war mokkit of the first eight dayis prevelege

5. The ‘liberty’ or trade precinct of a burgh. 1549 Banff Ann. I 26.
Within the preweleg and fredom of the brot of Banff