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

Kard, Kaird, n. ². Also: keard, ? kerd. [Sc. Gael. ceard artificer in metal, tinker, blackguard, Irish ceard, OIr. cerd smith, artificer, artist, composer, poet. In the mod. dial. caird, kaird usually = a vagrant tinker, a vagrant or gipsy. In Older Scots, as appar. also in the mod. dial., chiefly north-eastern.] A tinker, the craftsman who mends pots, kettles and other metal household utensils. b. Attrib. with turnour. 1398-1400 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) 184.
Johannes Laurencii kerd [one of a list of forestallers] 1570–1 Inverness Rec. I. 199.
Johne Grant … to … pay to the keard for mending of Thom Cummenychis pan ij s. vj d. 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 887.
Ninian Mauchane, … Androw Chaplane kard, and Adame Broun, for vagand in tyme of sermone … , ar ordinit … to be wardit 1645 Elgin Rec. I. 180.
Maines the kaird was decerned to pay four pounds 8s. 8d. for a yeirs maill of ane hous 1648 Ib. II. 261.
Alexander Malice was reprehended for reseting Michall Urquhart the kard, he being excommunicat c1650 Spalding I. 309.
This capitane wes treulie callit Forbes, bot nik named Kard, becaus when he wes ane boy he servit ane kaird 1658 Boharm Parish Mag. Nov., 1891.
This day the Session did condiscend with John Quei, kaird in Elgin, to cast the bell anew

b. The kaird turnours were appar. those false turners (the copper coin) mentioned at 1639 Acts V. 598/2 and elsewhere, the makers of which were to be punished with death. c1650 Spalding I. 235.
[2nd Nov., 1639] King Charles turnouris … wes, be proclamatioun at the cross of Edinbrugh, cryit doun fra tua penneis to ane penny; … and the kaird turnouris simpliciter dischargeit as fals cungȝie