Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Boster, n. Also: bostar; boister, boyster. [Variant of Bolster and Bouster n.]

1. A bolster.(a) 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxxiii.
A doun bed with a boster 1484 Ib. I. *90/1.
Thre pare of schetis, … five bosteris 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 246.
At his maredge ane fedder bede with bostar 1512 Ib. 202.
vj fedder beddis and vj bosteris fillit with federis 1522 Dunferm. B. Rec. 209.
Ane feddir bed, … ane boster, cod, and blanketis 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 11.
Ane bostar and tua coddis 1565 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 97.
10 bostaris with polyeis of cannos a1585 Maitl. Q. iii. 42.
Thay leif not … boster [Fol. boustar] , … sark nor scheit(b) 1540 Acta Conc. MS. XIII. 119.
Ane stand and bed … furnest with fedder bed … boister [etc.] 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII. 42.
Deliverit … to be ane boyster … ix elnis … quhite fustiane Ib.
To cover the said boister … v elnis … holland 1582 Grant Chart. 156.
xxiiij coidis, … xij boisteris

b. A padded protection for horses on shipboard. 1537 Treas. Acc. VI. 463.
Given … to by canwes to be stallis and bosteris to the Kingis hors in the schip

2. A piece of timber used to prevent chafing. 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII. 161.
For twa treis to be gunvalis … For ane tre to be bostaris