Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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.

Bonker, Bunkour, n. Also: boncker, bonk(c)ar, bonkour, boncure, bunkur, -er. [Of obscure origin. App. not in English use before the 19th c.] A chest or box, frequently serving also as a seat.(a) 1540 Acta Conc. MS. XIII. 119.
The paraling of ane hall with boncure, cusschingis, lang sadill, forme, cheir, stule [etc.] 1565 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 24 b.
In the gryt hall … thre burdis with bonkcarris and formeis thairto pertenand 1575 Edinb. Test. III. 138 b.
In his buith … thrie lokkit bonkeris for spyces 1595 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 582.
Daillis for the sylring off the scoole … and the foir face off the bonkaris Ib. 583.
xij portage daillis to be the heidis off the bonkaris 1626 M. Works Acc. XIX. 30.
Making of sum buirdes, trestis, and bonkeris [in the buttery] 1624 Kinghorn Kirk-S. 27.
Henrie Schankis hawing crawit libertie to set up ane foir-face to the bonkar of his dask 1639 Misc. Spald. C. II. 234.
The saidis keyi … vold be lent or givin … to thair servantis to seik out thair processis in thair bonckers vithin the inner hous 1670 Peebles B. Rec. II. 81.
Gawin Thomsone, thesaurer, to buy … ane lock to the [tolbooth] bonker(b) 1604 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 796.
For ane lok to the bunkur in the … yle 1628 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 365.
The present counselhous … to be repairit with bunkouris and saittis 1674 Justiciary Crt. II. 287.
Throwing him upon the edge of a bunker, chest or chair, which did wound him in the left side of his head

b. Attrib. with band. 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 354.
For thre pair bonkour bandis to the said hous