† prioressyn.
Obsolete.
1. Chiefly Scottish. The office or position of prioress.
ΚΠ
1441 in A. H. Thompson Visitations Relig. Houses Diocese Lincoln (1919) II. 9 Also we charge yow, prioresse, vndere the payne of perpetuelle priuacyone fro your state and dignytee of prioressye, [etc.].
1551 in M. Livingstone Reg. Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum (1908) I. 346/1 Licence..to Deme Margrete Swyntoun, priores of Elcho, to resigne or leif hir said prioressy in the handis of the Pape.
1633 Acts Parl. Scotl. (1870) V. 31/2 Whairby the richt and priueledge..which pertenit to quhatsumever abbacie priorie prioresse or other benefice..is annexit to the crowne.
2. Scottish. A nunnery or convent presided over by a prioress.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > monastic property (general) > monastery or convent > [noun]
minstereOE
monklifeeOE
clausterc1000
abbotricOE
house?a1160
anchor-house?c1225
religion?c1225
abbeyc1300
nunneryc1300
house (also abbey) of religiona1325
nunryc1325
closterc1330
cloister1340
monasterya1425
monk-house?c1475
friars1479
convent1528
guild1546
prioressy1575
abbey-stead1620
minchery1710
reclusory1821
akhara1838
house of piety1838
kloster1844
1575 in T. M'Crie Life A. Melville (1819) I. 150 (note) His hienes chalmerlan and factor to the said priorissie of the Senis.
1633 Sc. Acts Charles I (1817) V. 164/1 It is fund..That the richt of superioritie Off all lands..perteining to quhatsumever abbacies pryories pryoressis [etc.] pertenis to his Majestie.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.1441