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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.

Kirk-dure, -dur, n. Also kirke-, kyrk- and -durre, -duir, -dor(e, -doir, -door(e. [ME. kirrkedur (Orm) and chirche-dore, -dure, OE. ciric-dor and ciricean duru.]

An outer door of a church. Also attrib. with lock.The place where, in the Catholic Church, the public acts of marriage and baptism were carried out. After the Reformation, used espec. for public acts of repentance; also for the collecting of offerings, displaying of notices, reading of proclamations and as a stance for beggars.(a) 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 184.
Certane graytht boycht be the King fra a cremar at the kirk dure of Lythgow a1500 Seven S. 2454.
He wald I gaf hir of my hand At the kirk dure with all honour ? c 1500 Rathen Manual 27/1.
We cursis … all thai that castis the barnis at kyrk duris or ony place 1579 St. A. Kirk S. 441.
To cum euerie Sounday to the little kirk dure at the secund bell thair 1600 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 729.
For ane bowatt to hyng betuixt the west kirk duris 1608 Stirling B. Rec. I. 121.
To stand at the kirk dure and thair to craif, for uphalding and reparatioun of the said kirk, of the charitie … of the intrantis thairin(b) 1530 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 362.
He was found in the vedding kirk dur with his bonat on his heid, quhilk was hallouit place and kirk 1535 Stewart 20650.
He weddit hir at kirkdur with ane ring 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 354.
For paymenting of the south kirk dur, quhair the bairnis ar babtist 1556 Ib. 364.
vij jestis to be ane tirleis to the deid banis at the south kirk dur c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 467.
Thay be law deuine At kirk dur war coniunit 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 229.
The said Jhon … at the kyrk dur … [to] stand in the jogis 1580 Misc. Bann. C. II. 206.
Awand … be Johnne Smyth cramer at the kirk dur, viij l. 1591 Crim. Trials I. ii. 246.
Johne Fyen blew vp the kirk durris 1598–9 Elgin Rec. II. 70.
[Two elders] for onvaitting on the offerand and taikins appointit at the kirk dur 1642 Kirkcaldy Presb. 232.
That the pulpett sould stand … be weast the litle kirk durr c1650 Spalding I. 212.
Thair wes ane deid volie schot be the soldiouris for thair owne man Ramsay at the kirk dur Ib. II. 291.
Ane ballie … with ane deacon, who causit publish ane edict at the kirk dur of Old Abirdene(c) 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 338.
The hous above the kirk duir 1597 Elgin Rec. II. 49.
The kirk duiris sall be closit … and remane sa quhill the actioun be endit 1616 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 83.
That na begger be sufferit to stand in tyme cumming at the kirk doir besyid the tass(d) a1578 Pitsc. I. 258/11.
In this mean tyme thair come ane man clade in ane blew goune in at the kirk doore Ib. II. 143 n.
[They] gart prent thir actis … and set thame in the kirk doris 1593 S. Leith Rec. .
William Storie and his sonne was ordainit to stand at the kirk Dore, in thair lynning clais 1617 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 17.
Collection for the puir Sabbothlie at the kirk door 1622 Elgin Rec. II. 174.
James Layng appoynted to hald abak the beggaris from the kirk dor 1649 Brechin Presb. 13.
That the collection be made at the kirke door befor the people enter the publick assembly 1660 Dunferm. Kirk S. 55.
The keys of the kirk-dores were not in the kirk officer's hands 1661 Rothesay Par. Rec. 48.
To be putt in the joggs at the kirk doore 1670 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 268.
Not keeping clos the kirk dores before or after sunesettingattrib. 1631 Ritchie Churches S. Baldred 226.
Given to the smythe for mending the kirk door lock