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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.

Javel(l)o(u)r, n. Also: jawellour; javillo(u)r, -ilior, gavillour; javallor, jawallor; javolour; javeller; javlor. [Obscurely deriving from or related to OF. jaioleur (see Jaylour n.), but the explanation of the -v- remains uncertain; the earlier Sc. form is Jevellour. Cf. Javellar. A parallel formation is appar. ravell, revel, beside rail(l: this and the forms javel-, jevel-, etc., beside jayl-, geyl-, geil-, are perh. due to the analogy of alternations like gavill with gayll (gable) and devill with deill (devil).] A jailer.(a) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 402.
The javellouris quhilkis kept the presoun … to put him haistely to deith 1564 Edinb. Old. Acc. II. 187.
Andro Lyndsay, jawellour 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 185.
The window of the midhous of the javelouris hous a1605 Montg. Sonn. lv. 14.
My pairties ar my javellour and my judge 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 243.
Androw Sclater, water baillie officer and javellour of Leyth 1619 Crim. Trials III. 483.
The justice ordainit him to be put to libertie … he making satisfactioun to the javellour for his expenssis(b) 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 173.
Gif that persone passis furth of ward vndeliuerit to the javillour his wif or seruandis [etc.] 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 233.
To the twelf serjands and Thomas Hall, gavillour, for thair Yowll fee Ib. 235.
To Thomas Hall, jawillor 1560 Ib. II. 117.
The javilior 1652 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 274.
That the office of javillor or goodman of the Tolbuith hes bein deserted be Robert Denhame lait javillor(c) 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 127.
To Thomas Hall, jawallor Ib. 130.
Javallor 1560 Ib. II. 115.
Javolour(d) 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 158 (31 Jan.).
[To John Ranyng and Thomas Jonstoun,] javlors [in Drumfreis, for £6 payable at Whitsunday 1673]

b. Attrib. with fie, hous. 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 116.
That the said javelour for his javelour fie resave … of euery prisoner [etc.] 1639 Acts V. (1817) 270/1.
Article anent javelour fies 1680 Peebles B. Rec. II. 98.
The counsell … allowes the haill thrie [officers] to be equall infeftments, sentence money, javeller fie — 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 156.
To caus … sett vpoun the turnepyke of their tolbuith and javellour hous ane sufficient dur