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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Put(t)ar, -er, n. [ME and e.m.E. putter(e (Wyclif), f. Put v.]

1. One who puts, in senses of Put v.See also *Hand-puttar n.: cf. Put v. 3 c.(1) 1574 in Calderwood III 326.
Which useth to happen to putters of a heavie stone … which, howbeit some lift to their knee, some to their hainche, yea, some to their shoulder, as they are of strenth and abilitie(2) 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 438.
Aganis the putters or layers of greene lint in loches or running waters(3) 1522 Wigtown B. Ct. 132b.
In ane merchiament for falt of pvtter of his office to execution 1595 Irvine Mun. II 35.
The magistratis … be thair negligence … ar … nocht puttares this act to executioune 1646 Ib. 66.

2. With adv., forming a compound noun: cf. Put v. III.(1) a1586 Lindsay MS 46b.
The throunis that ordour of angellis trew putter away of all corruptioun(2) 1491–2 Acta Conc. I 216/2.
That thai persouns that wer put furthe call the puttaris furthe of thaim 1595 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 324.
Gif ony beis stait negligent in his vache his puttar furthe sall pey the vnlaw(3) 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III 241.
And thair maisteris and putteris out of these rwnawayes wha hes recept thame since thair away coming [etc.](4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxv 29.
Haile, … puttar to flicht Of fendis in battale

3. The name of some tool. 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 290.
Ane puter and ane crawyrone weyand twa stane and ane pund at [£3.6.8] ilk stane inde [etc.]