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: 1400-1607
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Closour, n. [Variant of Closer n. or Closure n.]
1. A bar or barrier; an enclosure. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 523.
Thrught the which closouires at thar will The knyghtes … May ische c1400 Ib. 691.
He sholde than oppyn the closoures c1420 Wynt. ii. 1306 (W).
Than [in] a steid he maid in hy A closoure wonder subtely 14.. Acts I. 363/2.
Gyf ony burges haf closour or yharde closyt, and ony bestis of his nychburis … entter tharin 1456 Hay I. 273/3.
How suld he be punyst that is vencust in barrieris, and grauntit his errour in the closour? 1513 Doug. i. ii. 11.
The wyndis … quhryne and plene, About thar closouris brayng with mony a rare c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 276/34.
Brekand the starkest closouris of hell 1548 Stirling B. Rec. I. 52.
The said duelling hous … with portall slottis and closouris 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6903.
He keipit hir … within closour, In the greit hous of ane strenthie castell 1565 Montgomery Mem. 199.
Office housis within the vttir stane wall and closour of the said place a1586 Lindsay MS. 1 b.
About the listis salbe ane closour of barreris a1586 Ib. 36 b.
Ane rycht noble closour of noble gardingis 1607 Acts IV. 373/2.
Quhasoeuir shall be fundin … To brak doun his nichbouris … stankis or closourisfig. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1103.
[To] lat of hyre virgynite The closoures vnlessumly To be broken
b. Comb. with brekar. 14.. Acts I. 342/1.
Grene wod stelaris, closouris brekaris, … mur burnaris [etc.]
2. A cover or case. 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 203.
Ane crem stok of siluer with ane closour of siluer
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"Closour n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/closour>


