Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Familiar(e, n. Also: familiear, -ylyar, -yliare, -uliar; famelyar, -eliear. [e.m.E. famyliar (1504), -iliar, -eliar (1640).] An intimate friend or associate; a confidential servant.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 156.
He mad hyr his familiare c1420 Wynt. v. 3515.
The gloryus doctor Saynct Jerome Wes hys luwyd famyliare 1456 Hay II. 97/24.
Than suld thou have … about thé … [some] of thy secrete and traist familiaris 1476 Reg. Cupar A. I. 224.
Our weillouyt famylyar Waltyr of Essy a1500 Henr. III. 141/35.
Quhen cumis a flatterer … Will tell ane taill of thy familiar 1504 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) I. 342.
The said maist reverend fader, his men, kyne, tenentis, frendis, familiaris, factouris & servandis 1533 Boece vi. ii. 188.
Be tresoun of ane familiare in quham he had maist affiance he suld within schort tyme be slane 1549 Compl. 133/4.
The familiars of princis that coniuris, ar affligit in there hart vitht ane thousand deffeculteis 1596 Dalr. I. 122/14.
Al juglaris, magitianis, familiars with wicked and euil spirits 1622-6 Bisset II. 352/8.
Beand … asked be ane familiare in his cumpany quhat moved him(b) 1460 Peebles B. Rec. 137.
The said Sir Thomas Kenedy was in the Kyngis respit at the bischop of Sanct Androis has of the Kyngis as famelyar tyl hym a1578 Pitsc. I. 35/19.
Quhat lose of goodis and geir our fameliearis and freindis haue had