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.
Quotation dates: 1561-1585
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Cipher(e, Cypher, n. Also: ciffre, cifre, cyphre, ceyphre. [e.m.E. cipher (cifer), cypher (cyphre), etc., OF. cyfre, cyffre. See also Chiffer and sephar Sipher.]
1. A monogram; a letter design. 1561 Inv. Q. Mary 35.
The bed of cyphers of A, callit the bed of Amite 1568 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 644/1.
Ane belt with ane cowter of gold with ceyphres and roissis … ; ane belt and ane cowtar with ane pendent of cyphres
2. A secret method of writing. 1568 Reg. Morton I. 35.
We haif vrittin in ciphere 1568 Ib. 36.
Copy of my Lord Argill cypher fra the Quene 1585 Gray Lett. & P. 54.
I could not vryt my self in ciffre
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"Cipher n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ciphere>
