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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.

Luster, n.¹ Also: -ir, -(o)ure, lustre; luister, -eur; loster. [e.m.E. lustre (c 1522), luster (1596), F. lustre.]

1. Refulgence, gloss, sheen, sparkle; luminosity, brilliance.(a) 1549 Compl. 53/31.
The spere & hauyn of Venus … is ane grit sterne of ane meruelous lustir(b) c1590 J. Stewart II. 166 § 3.
The lywelie luisteur of hir vult deuyn Ib. 203 § 12.
[That the city is Paradise] dois appeir Be lustie luisteur of the vallis cleir Ib. 229 § 119.
Lilies of the feild That dois sic cumlie smell and luisteur ȝeild Ib. 142 § 6. 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 17.
Drinke … transformes his nose in a red rock … whose glistring luister yeelds a vermilion reflex to palenes it selfe

2. fig. a. Embellishment, adornment. b. Brilliance, splendour, glory. c. Showiness, meretricious splendour, or an instance of this.a. 1609 Garden Garden 7.
Ile doe it in thy sight Wart but to len a luster to thy light 1611 Crim. Trials III. 157.
Acknowledgeing how vnhabill I am to gine the dew luster to these eminent and abundant vertues 1611-57 Mure I. 40/12. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 378.
Now men borrow … the lustre and farding of Christianity a1650 Row 436.
Which virtnes were most eminent in this singular servant of God, as a luster to his … other excellent gifts and gracesb. 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 405.
[The coronation] cannot be with so great a show and luster performed [if the throne face eastwards] … in regaird of the … disposall of the lights 1635 Dickson Wr. 175.
If the fruits of Christ's resurrection be newness of life, then all the lustre a man has of a … blameless life before he came to Christ, is but of the old man; it is but a pagan's lustre 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 378.
Providence hath another lustre with God than with my bleared eyes 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 152.
These that shall see the excellent lusture that shall be on it, shall, no doubt, be enamoured with it [our cause] a 1657 Balfour Heraldic Tracts 22.
If such a crime be committed by a nobleman derogatorey to the lustoure and splendore of his auen honor and nobilityc. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 160.
Our fair shows and the world's glistering lustres … is that wherewith most satisfy themselves

3. ? A chandelier, or ? A glass pendant ornament attached to a chandelier to increase the brilliance of the light.As mod. Eng. (1682) and F. lustre. 1697 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. II. 90.
In the chamber … ane cabinet and chist … of wainscot, ane loster, a writting latron