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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LETTERN, n. Also leteran; letteran, -on, -in(g), -rin, le(a)tron; laiteran, -tron; lateran(e). -on; latteran, -en, -in; lat(t)rain. -ron(e), -ern (Per. 1916 Wilson L. Strathearn 256). [′lɛt(ə)rən]

1. The desk or small pulpit used by a precentor in a church, usu. immediately under the minister's pulpit. Gen.Sc., nearly obs.; occas. applied also to some enclosed seats on either side of the precentor's desk in which the elders or others taking part in some special service, e.g. of baptism, were seated.Bnff. 1701 Annals Bnff. (S.C.) I. 172:
Ane Act … to be read in the Church from the leatron.Abd. 1713 T. Mair Ellon Records (1898) 311:
When the minister came in with a new precentor, they found the Latron held by the depute.Sth. 1732 C. D. Bentinck Dornoch (1926) 286:
It was suggested to the Session that opportunity should be taken, whilst John Ross, Square Wright, was building Sir John Gordon's loft, to employ him also to build a Pulpit, Laterane, and Elders Seat.Ags. 1776 First Hist. Dundee (Millar 1923) 168:
The presenttors Seat or Letteron is also neatly covered with green, and likewise fringed.Sh. 1796 J. Mill Diary (S.H.S.) 106:
About 8 days after [I] desired the Precentor to intimate from the Latterin that the people should bring their children for baptism.n.Sc. 1840 D. Sage Memorabilia (1889) 76:
Directly in front of the pulpit below stood the elders' seat, or “lateron”, an area of considerable breadth, which ran nearly from one end of the church to the other.Ags. 1860 A. Whamond James Tacket 64:
[He] learned a few of the newest tunes, and among others, Devizes … which he was sure he could not stick, were he to go to the lettrin.Fif. 1867 St Andrews Gaz. (20 April):
Which Meeting the said Commissioners are hereby required to attend; and this is ordered to be published by the Precentors from the Laterans of the several Parish Churches within the Shire.Sc. 1902 E.D.D.:
In old Scottish churches the “lateran” was also a large square pew on either side of the precentor's desk under the pulpit. In the “lateran” parents sat when they brought their children to baptism. To “sit in the lateran” meant either to act as precentor, or to get a child baptized in church.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 35:
Gin ye hid steed i' the laiteran's I've deen, ye wid 'a' kent.

2. Any writing or reading desk, specif. one used in a lawyer's office and hence fig. the profession of a lawyer; a bureau or escritoire.Sc. 1701 Acts Parl. Scot. X. 284:
His servant's lettron which stood near the door of the lodgeing with some few other things was all that was saved.Sc. 1713 Two Students (Dickinson 1952) 42:
To conceal from Alexander your design of putting him to the lettron at Hallowmass.Sc. 1719 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) II. 442:
It stands behind the latron, in that shelf where my manuscript sermons stood, the third or fourth shelf from the floor.Ork. 1726 P. Ork. A.S. VI. 30:
One Large lattrain in cedar wood with frame.Rs. 1727 W. MacGill Old Ross-shire (1909) 133:
Letron or counter with brander containing peapers sealed.Sc. 1769 Caled. Mercury (24 July):
A Desk or Lettering in the writing chamber of John Dundass, Writer to the Signet.Sc. 18th c. J. Ramsay Scots and Scotsmen (1888) I. 181, II. 63:
It was very common for young men intended for the bar to attend a writer's chambers. The lattern, as it was called, answered nearly the same purpose in Scotland that the Inns of Court did to the English. … People of moderate estate used to send their eldest son for some time to the lattern.Edb. 1825 Jam., obsol.:
“He was bred to the Lettron.” He was bred a writer [lawyer].