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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rollar, Rowar, -er, n.² [Late ME and e.m.E. roller (c1420), rouller (1534), roler (1563–4); Rol(l v.²]

1. a. ? A cylindrical pin of wood, etc. used to hold together parts of a complex artefact. b. A piece of wood rounded to the shape of a cylinder and placed under heavy objects so that they can be pushed along for short distances.The quot. f. Treas. Acc. XI given under b may be a further instance of a.a. c1475 Wall. vii 1156.
The tothir end [of the bridge] he ordand for to be. How it suld stand on thre rowaris off tre, Quhen ane war out, that the laiff doun suld fall Ib. 1182.
Jhon wricht The rowar out he straik with gret slycht The laiff ȝeid doun quhen the pynnys out gaisb. 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 353.
vj plankis to be rollaris in the schippis under the artalȝery, and for uthir akin tymmer to be rollaris to the small munitioun Ib. 354.
To vj sawaris wirkand upoun the sawing and dressing of the rollaris in the schippis 1566 Ib. XI 519.
For bering of smyddie cole and viij roweris, ij barrellis of powder furtht of the castell of Edinburght to Leitht

2. a. The revolving drum of a windlass. b. A rotating roller or cylinder in the mechanism of a clock. Cf. Rol(l v.² 5 b.a. 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I 118b.
Ane mast of firre to be rowaris to the said windesis 1685 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 28 March.
For a swingle tree … , four rowers to the gineb. 1628 Glasgow B. Rec. I 366.
For forming, making and vpputting of the horolog brodis, mones, bunkis and roweris

3. A heavy cylinder (of stone), fitted into a frame and used for crushing clods, levelling ground, etc. 1683 Inv. in Donibristle Mun. (Earl of Moray's MSS) 18 (9–10 May).
Item tuo ston rollers with their frames of iron. Item tuo rollers of ston on of them wanting a frame