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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Biggar, Bigger, n. Also: biggare, biger, bigir. [f. Big v. Cf. ME. biger (rare).]

1. A builder; one engaged in building. Also with up. 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 31.
Certane statutis [of the masons and wrights] … proffitable baith for the wirkaris and to all biggaris c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matt. xxi. 42.
The staan quhilk biggaris [Wycl. bilderis] repreuet 1551 Acts II. 490/1.
To auise gif the chaplane … contributis with the biggar conforme to the first article 1562-3 Winȝet I. 32/25.
The corner or bandstane quhilk the bigaris refusit 1579 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 446.
The false named kirkmen, that pretend to be biggers up, … would cast doun all to the ground 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 8.
Richert Doby to pas with the biggers thairof [sc. of the leper-house] … and desygne the bounds 1654 Fam. Innes 175.
For payeing the … biger of the park dykes

2. A maker of a fire. Also with on. 1591 Exch. R. XXII. 121.
Keparis of the duireis and biggaris on of the fyris 1586 Treas. Acc. MS. 127.
Johnne Murray sumtyme biggare on of his hienes fyris 1608 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 62.
Maister Willeame Reid purgit him selff be his aith, that he wes not the bigger of the fyir at the Midchyngill