A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Assisour, Assiser, n. Also: assissour, assysour, -owr, assisowr; ass-, asissor, assyssor, asysor; assysar; assys(s)er, asyser, assysir. [ME. assisour (a 1330), AF. assissour. Cf. e.m.E. assisor, assiser.] A member of an assize; a juryman.(a) 1436 Acts II. 23/2.
That al Jugis sal ger the assisouris swere … quhen thai ar chargit to the assise that [etc.] 1491 Ib. II. 225/1.
That the chancellare or presedent … with avise of his assissouris sall put quhat pane … thai think expedient 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 212.
The saydis parteis are content to onderly the decret of the saydis assisowris 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 192.
The foresaidis personis assisouris tharto sworne 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 189.
The prouest, baillies, counsale and assissouris sittand in jugement findis that [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Assisa.
All the assisors … suld sweare an solemne aith to judge and decerne richtly Ib. s.v. Iter.
The assisouris being summoned be ane precept … suld be called 1676 Forbes Baron Ct. 301.
Asissores Names(b) 1493 Liber Aberbr. 276.
At the decret … and delyuerance off certane assysowris of perambulatione 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 207.
Sic vther sowmes as salbe thocht expedient be the assyssouris to be gevin 1569 Rec. Earld. Orkney 129.
Befoir thir witnes … , with utheris divers off the assyssoris 1583–4 Ib. 159.
We with advyse of the asysors decerns that the sheriff [etc.] 1606 Melrose P. 12.
The scaircetie of skilled and weill affected assysoures in thir caisses 1676 Forbes Baron Ct. 308.
Assysores Names(c) 1586 Inverness B. Rec. I. 305.
To summond the assysaris … to compeir at sic peremptour day as our saidis commissionaris sall think expedient 1600-1610 Melvill 117.
The graittest part of his assysars being his knawin unfreinds, he was condamned to be headit(d) 1583–4 Rec. Earld. Orkney 158.
The said William compeired befor us and the asysers forsaid 1593 Reg. Morton I. 185.
That the assysseris be nocht nominate at the optiown of the parteis to be accused 1600-1610 Melvill 625.
Great contradictioun being betwix the assyseris 1668 Forbes Baron Ct. 271.
The names of the assysirys 1699 Conv. Burghs IV. 295.
To furnish and affoord … [the] shireffs of Murray … sufficient … assyssers at all occations necessare
