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.

Carectar, Carecter, n. Also: carrectar, -er, charectar, caracter. [e.m.E. car-, charecter (16th c.), variant of car-, character.] A character, sign, or symbol; a style of writing; pl. types for printing. 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 289.
Thai resaue this spirituale figure and takin that is callit carectar c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rev. xiii. 16.
He sall mak all … to haue a charectar in thar richthand Ib. xvi. 2.
The carectar of the beest 1600 Haddington Corr. 209.
I ceas to mak mention of the caracteres and breifs fund upon him 1609 Acts IV. 423/1.
The carecter aggreis euery way with the schap of Restalriggis handwrytt 1619 Lett. Eccles. Affairs II. 607.
All the houses whair they had bookes, papers, or carecters 1622-6 Bisset I. 71 marg.
He maid the first carrectaris of letteris on leid and trie witht ane knyff