Also 4 Sc. tribone, -owne, trybone, 5 -bun(e, 7–8 tribun. [ad. L. tribūnus, lit. ‘head of a tribe,’ f. tribu-s TRIBE; cf. F. tribun (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. A title designating one of several officers in the Roman administration; spec. a. Tribune of the people (L. tribūnus plebis), one of two (later five, then ten) officers appointed to protect the interests and rights of the plebeians from the patricians. b. Military tribune (L. tribūnus mīlitāris), one of six officers of a legion, each being in command for two months of the year.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxii. (Laurentius) 171. Þane was þare a mychtty tribowne. Ibid., xxxiii. (George), 22. Quhare he wes mad … a trybone. & þu sal wit, a tribone is he þat [of] þe thred part of a cyte or of a cunctre kepare is; & a tribone is als I-wise þat trybut gadris to þe king … & he his tribune als, þu kene, to quham ansueris a thousand men.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 273. After consuls, tribunes plebis and dictatores rulede the comounte anon to Iulius Cesar his tyme.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 45. Ane othir maner of officiaris … callit trybunys.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. iii. (S.T.S.), II. 61. The ȝere iijex. fra þe first fundatioun of rome was þe first tyme þan ony tribunis militare war create with power consulare.
1678. R. L’Estrange, Seneca’s Mor., I. xv. (1696), 77. He that is a Tribune, would be a Prætor.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, I. Pref. 36. A new order of Magistrates, of their own body, called Tribuns.
1838–42. Arnold, Hist. Rome, I. viii. 139. The tribune’s power of protection enabled him to interpose in defence of the unfortunate.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, iv. 37. He forced his way steadily upwards … to the rank of military tribune.
2. transf. and fig. An officer holding some position analogous to that of a Roman tribune; a judge; a protector of the rights of the people; a popular leader, a demagogue.
1587. Harrison, England, II. v. (1877), I. 109. The cheefe or high tribune of the excheker is of custome called lord cheefe baron.
a. 1660. Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.), II. 147. Himself alone with his fewe Conatian tribunes … will disannull all this.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, Italy, III. 78. Venice was originally a democratical state, under consuls and tribunes…. The Tribunes were succeeded by the Doges.
1853. Macaulay, Biogr., Atterbury (1860), 13. By the body of the clergy he was regarded as the ablest and most intrepid Tribune that had ever defended their rights.
1882. W. Cory, Mod. Eng. Hist., II. 283. Mr. Cobbett … took his seat on the Treasury Bench. To have a tribune of the people sitting between Ministers … would be a hindrance to business.
Hence † Tribunian a. Obs. rare, of or pertaining to a tribune.
a. 1693. Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. xxxix. 328. I give out Sentence in his favour, unto whom hath befallen the best Chance by Dice; Judiciary, Tribunian, Pretorial, what comes first.
