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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.

Clarschach, Clareschaw, n. Also: clarscheouch, clar-, clairsch(e)ocht; clarscha(w), clarcheo, clarshon; clairshoe, -scho(w), -schew; klerscharch, clersha, -scheo, -schew. [Gael. clàirseach, harp.]

1. A Highland harper. 1434 Highland P. II. 175.
[Eugenio Klerscharch Makane 1438 Exch. R. V. 56.
De medietate terre de Westercloveth in Strathdone, tenta per quendam Duncanum Clarscheouch c1450-2 Howlat 803.]
The Schenachy, the Clarschach, … Scho kennis thame ilkane 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 177.
To Martyn, clareschaw, and the toder Ersche clareschaw Ib. 184.
Til ane oder Ersche clareschaw 1533 Boece vi. xii. 209.
Fethelmake … went to his quiet chalmer, chargeing ane clareschaw [Bell. harpar] … softlie play ane dulce sang

2. A Highland or Irish harp, strung with wire.(a) 1491 Acta Conc. 172/2.
Takin fra him of ane pailȝoune, … ane maskinfat and ane clareschaw Ib. 204/1.
Agnes … sall content and pay to Niniane … for a clerschew xxti s. a1500 Seven S. 2522.
Thai … With trumpe & talburn playit lowde, Harpe, lute, gittern, clarschaw, & crovde 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 324.
To a man that playit on the clarscha 1501 Ib. II. 119.
To tua men that playit on the clarscha and sang to the king 15.. Clar. ii. 1655.
The dulse, base fiddell, with the recordour Assayit war … ; Out of Irland ther was ane clerscheo Ib. v. 990.
All minstrellis then with instruments are gone, Both lute, … viole, clarcheo, and guthrone, To play into the … hall c1563 Reg. Panmure I. cxlvi.
Ane minstrel quhilk owr cuntraymen callis ane player on the clairschowe, and the Englishmen ane harper Ib.
Amongest the ancient Scottis the harpe and clairschow … wer in gryt price 1587-99 Hume vii. 207.
The musicke then … Sall their be heard … As clarshons cleare, douce friddoning of flutes Ib. 158/81.
The melodious sound of lutes, cisters, clairshoes, or of other quiet instruments of that kinde 1603 Monipennie Chron. K b. in Misc. Scot. I. 173.
They delight much in musike, but chiefly in harps and clairschoes of their owne fashion. The strings of the clairschoes are made of brasse-wire, and the strings of the harps, of sinewes a 1615 Cron. Erlis Ross (1850) 15 (see Clarschar n.).
The clersha(b) 15.. K. Berdok ii.
Weill cowd he play in clarschocht and on lute 1597 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 236 b.
He leuis to Andro Callum ane buird, sex stuillis, ane chyre, with his clairscheocht