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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Usar, -er, n. Also: usare, -ear. [ME and e.m.E. vsere (c1400), vser (a1425), user (1626).]

1. One who makes use of something. 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 253.
Slairis of nolt scheip swyne … and als the vsaris of ischeis thairof 1573 Edinb. Test. II 336b.
I … makis … Johne Bell rewlar gyder and tutour to my said sone and vsar of my gudis to his proffitt 1597 Dunferm. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 174.
The auld actis maid anent nychtwalkeris, danseris, vseris of masking[is] & gysingis [etc.] 1613 Crim. Trials III 261.
Vsearis of poysone or poysoneable herbis 1622 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 54.
The old actes maid anent the haveares and vseares of false stoupes within this brugh 1629 Justiciary Cases I 123.
The secund act of the 19 parliament of King James the saxt maid and set doun aganis the usearis of fals measouris

2. One who practises an activity or mode of behaviour, one who carries out an action, the committer of a deed or crime. c1575 Balfour Pract. 520.
Of fals notaris and witnessis, counsellaris and useris of falset 1577 Crim. Trials I ii 76.
Ane commoune vsare of sorcerie, libbis and charmes 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 188/3.
I debarre all rumling uiolent exercises as the fitball meitter for laming nor making able the useris thairof 1622-6 Bisset II 106/4.
Helias the prophett and Sanct Johnne … wes first usaris of that solitarie lyfe 1622 Crim. Trials III 508.
The vsearis and practizaris of witchcraft, sorcerie, charmeing, and sothesaying a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 3.
Fals nottars and wthers makers and users of falsett

b. One who practises a trade or craft. 1639 Lanark B. Rec. 132.
It sall be leissum to the officeris of the said friemen of the said cordoner craft … impeid and hinder the saides persones useres of the said craft of cordiner craft

3. One who serves or puts into effect a legal document. 1576 Exch. R. XX 504.
David Fowlar, messinger, usar of the said precept, declarit that he deliverit … to John Kellie 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 102.
Maister Thomas Broune and Gilbert Johnstoune forgearis fenyearis and devisaris of the said pretendit charter and instrument of seasing usaris of the samyn 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 121b.
Gif all the witnes insert, depones that they knaw nathing anent the wreit … the wreit, or evident is declared to be fals … and the vser thereof, is punished capitallie 1622-6 Bisset I 218/20.
The producaris and usaris thairof [sc. false writs] … salbe punised 1627 Justiciary Cases I 77.
The forger and falsiefiear thairof [sc. the writ] is decernit to be pwneist for forgeing and fenȝeing of the samyn quhilk be the decreit producet nawayis concludis that the executiones ar fals or fenȝeit or ony pwneishment appointit thairby to be inflicted upone the usear or abydar thairat c1630 Hope Minor Practicks (1726) 69.
If the king … give a letter of regress; … when the order of redemption is used and declared, the user of the redemption is immediately seased, upon the sight of the regress