Obs. exc. Sc. Forms: α. 4–5 stente, (6 steynte, 5 Sc. stenth, 7 Sc. staint), 6– stent. β. 5–6 stynte, 6 stynt(t, 6–7 stint. [a. OF. estente: see EXTENT sb. (Cf. STINT sb.1, with which this word seems to have been partly confused.)]
1. The valuation or assessment of property formerly made for purposes of taxation; the amount or value assessed, tax, impost, duty. = duty. = EXTENT sb. 1 a, b.
α. 138[?]. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 422. Whanne a prelat dieþ þe pope wole have his stente of alle þat falliþ to his hous.
c. 1390–1400. in R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7678. [MS. C has stentes for rentes in the following passage: Þe king willam … Let enqueri þoru al engelonde … þe rentes of ech toun].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 474/1. Stente, or certeyne of valwe, or drede [Winch. dette], and oþer lyke,… taxacio.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. Contents, The valewe and steynte of the benyfice of seint magnus in london.
1535. St. Papers Hen. VIII., II. 249. Your Counsaill … may foresee a new stent to be made of your revenewes.
1557. in Marwick, Edin. Guilds (1909), 89. That na burges sonn … salbe haldin to pay taxt, stent, walk or waird … nocht haffing stob nor staik.
1581. W. Stafford, Exam. Compl., ii. (1876), 35. And so as the pryce of your wares riseth; and yet I doe but keepe my land at the olde stent.
1642. in Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), Life J. Row 20. The presbitrye had sett down a stent on every kirk.
1657. Kirk Sess. Rec., in J. Campbell, Balmerino (1899), 408. Ane staint of a hunder merkis laid upon the heritors.
1786. Burns, Twa Dogs, 51. Our Laird gets in his racked rents, His coals, his kane, an’ a’ his stents.
1862. G. Henderson, S. Matt. in Lowl. Scotch, ix. 9 (E.D.D.). He saw a man sittin’ at the resett o’ stent.
1883. W. C. Smith, N. Country Folk, 103, Mad Earl, lxvii. And there are three old burghs too, paying him stents and dues.
β. 1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. xxiv. 72. I had leuer than the stynte of my land a yere that he were on lyue. Ibid., VII. xxxv. 269. I wold not for the stynte of my croune to be causar to withdrawe your hertes.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 363. To pay the .v. part of the stynte of theyr landes.
1538. Starkey, England, II. i. 175. That al such rentys as be inhaunsyd by memory of man schold be rebatyd, and set to the old stynt of that tyme.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 157. They should … pay the fift part of the stint of their landes.
1577. V. Leigh, Surv., M ij b. That he maie thereby the better perceiue what euery Tenaunte commonly paieth for an acre … after the stinte of his rente.
1740. New Hist. Jamaica, 55. The Successors of Columbus … used the utmost Severity in collecting the Stints which they imposed.
† b. ? Valuation. Obs.
c. 1460. Sir R. Ros, La Belle Dame, 769, in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 108. I can nat se but all is at o stent, Þe good, þe yll, þe vyce, and eke vertu.
† 2. attrib. and Comb., as stent maker, making; stent oil, ? the quantity of oil claimed as duty on the year’s produce; stent-roll, assessment roll.
1613. Extracts Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1876), 337. Sindrie … quha in tyme bygane haif blasphemit the *stent makeris.
1569. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 683. Anent the assisting, contributioun, and *stent making in tyme bipast.
1614. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 486/1. Payand … for thrie leischepund 11/2 merk *stent oylie, 5 pundis 2s. 2d. Ibid. (1633), 740/2. Reddendo unum lie leispund de lie stent-oyllie.
1517. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., V. 126. Item … for non-delivering of thair *stent row ij s.
1657. Melrose Regality Rec. (S.H.S.), I. 162. The whole elders of the parish … to collect and deliver to him the stent of their towns conform to the stent-roll produced.
1723. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), III. 44. Some are threatened to have their stent-roll heightened in August next, if they come not in and vote.
