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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Meltar, n. Also: -ar(r)e, -er. [e.m.E. melter (1535), f. Melt,v.¹] One who melts ore or metal.Chiefly b. A workman so employed in a mine or mint, a melter, smelter. c. A gun-founder. 1567 Acts III. 29/1.
That na maner of gold … be meltit … vnder the paine of confiscatioun of the half of the gudis of the awner and melterb. 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV. 273.
To Gerard, meltar of the mynd, takand monethtlie … iiij Franch crounis 1515 Ib. V. 20.
Ane Johne Drane, Francheman, … ane fynour, weschear and meltar of gold for to pas to Craufurd Mure 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 556.
All meltaris, forgearis and prentaris within the said cunyehous 1579 Ib. III. 159.
Na officiar of his hienes cunye-house, goidsmyth, meltar or affynar 1602 Colville Paraenese 29.
The myneres and meltares 1602 Crawford Mining P. 12 Oct.
The servandis meltaris and fynneris thairof 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I. 205.
Henry Starky with his meltar, essayar, and interpretarc. 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 442.
Robert Borthwik, gunnar, maister meltare of the Kingis gunnis 1532 Reg. Privy S. II. 158/2. 1549 Ib. IV. 31/2. 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 101.
To David Rowane, maister melter, to by certane necessaris to the gunhous with … for castin of certane grete hakbuttis of found 1552–3 Ib. 151.
Meltarres and gunnares 1558–9 Ib. 441. 1561 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 229/2. 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 205. 1645–6 J. Hope Diary (1958) 149.
The cheiffe melter said he had 20 s. a weeke, the caster als much