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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Heritour, Heretour, n. Also: heritor, -ure, hearitor, heretor. [e.m.E. heritor (c 1554), herytoure (1525); later var. of Heritar n., conformed to agent-nouns in -our, -or. Cf. Heriter. The fem. equivalent is Heretrice, Heretrix.]

1. An heir. Also fig. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 35.
He … desirit the crown to be gevin to him, as just heritour thairof 1533 Boece iv. viii. 137.
Dardane tuke purpois to distroye Corbrede Gald, … eftir his deceis heretoure to the crowne 1549 Compl. 86/18.
Jhone, Kyng of Ingland, gart slay the heretours of his predecessours a1578 Pitsc. I. 116/18.
Lady Marie, richt heretour to the crowne of the realme of Ingland 1622-6 Bisset I. 55/15.
[The King], to inyoyse the … proffettis of thair saidis landis quhill the heretouris thairof war of twentie ane ȝeiris compleitfig. 1551 Hamilton Cat. fol. 95 a (J).
Gyf we be sonnis, we ar also heretouris, heretouris I say of God 1581 Burne Disput. 5 b.
Quha is in cheritie, he is heriture of the lyf euerlesting

2. The proprietor of a heritable property. In this sense, only Sc.(a) 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 297/1.
Martine Bailȝe, bastard, deit possessour and heritour of the saidis landis 1527 Sutherland Chart. 75.
Ane nobill lady, Elizabeth, Countas and heriture of Suthirland c 1580 Skene Celtic Sc. III. 432.
The Ile of Sky … perteinit … in auld times to McConneill, but now be his disposition thair is divers heritors of sundrie pairts thairof 1605–19 Paisley B. Rec. 133.
The Corshous in Calsasyd, occupeit by John Sclaitter, heritor c1650 Spalding II. 378.
The heritouris of cornefeild landis lyand about(b) 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 488.
His said umquhile fader being heretour of the udall land of the Yle of Gairsay in Orknay 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 32.
Alexr. Slowman, merchant, heretour of the wester part of the newfewet partis of the eister mure 1622-6 Bisset I. 227/10.
Quhere the heretoure or uthir lauchfull possessoure desyris the tennent to remove, that he may entir 1648 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 88.
It sall alwayes be lesume to the heretouris of the back yettis … to appropriat the peice ground c1650 Spalding I. 293.
Brasmoir, ane heretour of the said water … tak is bak the fishes plunderit fra him and his nichtbouris

b. A property-owner, landowner, landed proprietor.‘In connection with parochial law, the term is confined to such proprietors of lands or houses as are liable in payment of public burdens’ (Bell). 1575 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 195.
He beand ane heritour within this cuntrie 1598 Reg. Great S. 291/1.
Fra quhatsumevir heretouris, fewaris, fermoraris, tenentis [etc.] 1638 Dundonald Par. Rec. 521.
The gentlemen elders of the Sessioun … and others heritours 1643 Soc. Ant. IV. 480.
The heritoures of the parochine of Newbattell, … being convenit in the kirk thereof 1651 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 127.
The counsell gives ordour … to stent the haill heretouris and possessoures of the friedome 1689 Montgomery Mem. 343.
Full power … to call out all the heretors, chieftans of clannes, and fenceible men