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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ourséar, n. Also: -seare, -seir, -sier, -seair, -seiar, -seyar; orsear. [Sc. var. of Overséar n.]

1. A superintendent or supervisor. = Overséar n. 1. 1462 Peebles B. Rec. I. 147.
The chapellane … sal be tutour and oursear of the sayd almushous 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 405/2.
Makand him and his assignais keparis oursearis correkaris and suplearis of the Ile of Litill Comeray a1538 Abell 86 b.
Quhat is a bischeprik … it is interpret a waikrife oursear to the heill of thare nychtbure 1563 Thirds of Benefices 290.
Stipends. [Mr. Alexander Gordon] ourseair [of Galloway] 1570 Inverness Rec. I. 195.
Johne M^cGillewye, Johne Robertson and Alexander Paterson eldar to be maisteris of wark of the said brig and oursearis thairof 1572 Crail B. Ct. MS. 25 June.
To be quartermasteris and oursearis off the byggyng off the peir 1584 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 115.
The day of visitatioun of the said hospitall be the oursearis 1587 Acts III. 508/1.
Ane honest … man Nicolas Vduart burges of Edinburch to be visitour and our sear of the saidis craftismen haill warkis steikis and peeces 1596 Monimail Reg. Ct. 21 Oct.
To Willeame Alane smyth and Willeame Fairny schiphird as cunnaris with Dauid Spens as oursear thairto

b. A works manager, overseer, foreman or chargehand. = Overséar n. 1 c and d.Also attrib. with -wark. 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 105.
The expensis … debursit be the said Schir James as ourseyar of the said place 1534–5 Ib. 130.
To Sir Thomas Johnson chapellane and oursear to this werk forsaid … xxxvi lib. viii s. 1535–6 Ib. 147.
To Sir Williame Makdowgall oursear at the said quarrell and tailler of stuf … v lib. xvii s. 1537–8 Ib. 215.
To ane servitour oursear of the masonis 1541 Soc. Ant. XXX. (1895–6) 53.
Makand him principale ourseare and maister of all werkis … within the castell of Striveling 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 248.
Dauid Symmer to be oursear of the well … to caus tham be maid depar 1573 Treas. Acc. XII. 350.
To the pionaris … wirkand at the trinchis … for thair wageis and to Johne Scarlat ane of thair oursearisattrib. 1595 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 583.
To James Ferrie oursear wark xx s.

2. = Overséar n. 2 a and b. 1579 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 3 Apr.
That the said Alexander be ane gud & sufficient attender & our sear of all and syndry his & his moderis guddis … and that no thing ga wrang in his nor his moderis defalt 1584 Edinb. Test. XIII. 373.
He ordinis the … laird of Blair … & his lady to be oursearis debataris & mantenaris of his said spous & his barnis 1585 Ib. XIV. 193.
I ordine Johne Mure [etc.] … to be oursearis to thame & furtheraris & freindlie helparis 1590 Douglas of Morton 727.
[Appoints his spouse and son aforesaid his executors, who are to act with the advice of James Creichtoun [etc.] … Ordains his children with their goods to remain with their mother] unto sik tyme as the foirnamet oursearis find tyme convenient to transport onie of thame fra hir 1594 Edinb. Test. XXVII. 44.
He ordanis … his spous to mak na greit blokis without the aduyse of the said oursear 1603 Lithgow Poet. Remains xxxiv.
I leif ourseiris to my bairnes Johne Weir [etc.] … to sie my husband fulfill this my legacie 1614 Paterson Ayr & Wigton II. 412 (see Our(i)sman n. 3). 1660 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III. 55.
Oursier

b. One who assists, consoles and supports another. 1582 Maxwell Mem. II. 151.
Nocht … that ȝe suld be hir kepar bot hir comforter and ourseiar in hir greit extremitie [sc. childbirth]