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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Barbour, n. Also: barboure, -ure, -or. [ME. barbour (c 1300), barbor, AF. barbour, OF. barbeor. See also Barbar(e.] A barber (and surgeon). 1382 Exch. R. III. 84.
[Dominis Johanne Barbour … Ib. 657.]
Johanne Barboure(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 1017.
His barboure tald hym til Gyf he wald haf don thair wil, He had schorne his hals in twa c1475 Wall. v. 758.
A barbour off the best To cutt and schaiff 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 68.
Gevin to McMwlane the barbour … for the leichcraft done be him to the litil boys of the Chalmire, xl s. 1497 Ib. 373.
To the barbour that brocht aqua vite to the King in Dunde a1500 Seven S. 1561.
He … bad the barbour strike the vane, That scho mycht bleid alsmekle agane 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 409.
Item, payit to … the barbour that com to tak furth the Kingis tuth, xiiij s. 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 102.
The kirkmaister and brether of Chirurgeonis and Barbouris within this burgh 1529 Reg. Privy S. I. 585/2.
Johnne Murray, barbour to our souerane lord 15.. Clar. iii. 2354.
Ane barbour com full bissilie, And off he shouife his lang hairis all cleine 1560 Rolland Seven S. 147/20.
To ane barbour … past he sone, Saying, ‘Maister, ar ȝe gudlie expart, In blude latting?’ 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 234.
Be quhilk mutilatioun the said Johnne hes continewalie sensyne remanit in … Edinburgh under handilling of barbouris 1594 Edinb. B. Rec. 124.
[The council] geves to Jhonn Hog … ten pund to be gevin to the barbouris for curing him 1596 Dalr. I. 142 marg.
Medicineris & Surigeoneris or Barbouris he esteimet nocht litle 1622-6 Bisset II. 259/8.
Of all pilage … the barboure, cuik, and gunner gettis na pairt 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 341.
Johne Hall, present headis man or dekine of the chirurgianis and barbouris a 1686 Turner Mem. 96.
With the helpe of. . a barbour, and a shoemaker, I got out of the top of the house(b) 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 105.
To James Jakling barbure, … v vnicornis 1493 Halyb. 39.
Paid to the barburis sone to convay hym by nycht. 12 g.(c) 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 205.
Barboris, ypothecaris, tauernaris, baxtaris, cukis 1612 Bk. Rates 325.
Razers for barbors the dicker contening ten, xx s. 1672 Acts VIII. 184/1.
The present chirurgians, apothecaries & barbors … of Glasgow

b. Attrib., or in possessive, with basin, case, etc. 1493 Acta Conc. 282/2.
A caise with thre barbouris knyffis, twa pare of barbouris syssouris 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 102.
Our saidis craftis of surregenie or barbour craft 1575 Edinb. Test. III. 364 b.
Ane pair of barbour scheris 1621 Ib. LI. 63 b.
Tua dosone of barbour syssouris 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 302.
One old broken barbour's basine 1642 Edinb. Test. LX. 185.
Ane barbouris caice and ane pick