A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1544-1601
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Chiffer, Chiffre, n. Also: schyfre, schiphre. [F. chiffre. Cf. Ciphre.]
1. An ornamental letter or device.1544 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 97.
Cunyeit peces of gold … havand ane schyfre of the quheinis one the ane syde1561 Inv. Q. Mary 30.
Ane bed diuidit equalie in claith of gold and siluir with drauchtes of violet and gray silk maid in chiffers of .A. and enrichit with leiffis
2. A secret manner of writing. Also attrib.1570 Lennox Mun. 448.
Two lettres, written in chiffre1589 Cal. Sc. P. X 152.
That thayr is in thaym [sc. letters] ane schiphre termed in French le bastone which must be dischipherd1601 Denmylne MSS. 39.
Ȝe sall resaiff ane lettre from His Majestie … , ane chiffre as ȝe crave 1601 Ib. 43.
Gif ȝour chiffre letter be directed to the King, clois it
