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.
Cunstar, Cunster, n. Also: cwnstar, -stair, quenster. [Cun v. 3.] = Cunnar 1. (Chiefly in northeastern records1535
Aberd. B. Rec. MS. XVI. (J).
That the officiaris pas oukly with thair cunstaris throu the quarteris 1541 Elgin Rec. I. 65.
That na derer ayill be saulde … na xii d. the gallone … and war to be set be the cunstaris to lawar prece 1551 Ann. Banff I. 28.
That thair be na aill sauld … bot … that be fundin gud and sufficient be the quensters 1561 Inverness R. Rec. I. 50.
Quhar ewyr onne onfre browstar rabuttis … the officiaris, cunstaris of this bruch 1576 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 19 b.
The aill the broustaris brewis aganis Sounday that thai keip the same vnbrokin quhill aucht houris that the cunstaris may sey it 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. MS. 119.
Thomas Sinclair … and Lowrence Leisk to be cwnstairis to try quhidder thair aile be sufficient or nocht. … The cwnstaris … to gife vpe the brekaris and contravenaris of this act 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 357.
Thair salbe cunstaris of aill … in all the browstar houssis Ib. 361. 1635 Ann. Banff I. 73.
The judges appoynt … Patrik Weynes [etc.] to be cunsters of the drink and sichteris of the breid for the space of ane yeir 1666 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 132.
The shireffes or justices of peace, … to appoint tasters and cunsters to sie that the aile and drinking beir be sufficient 1676 Ann. Banff I. 156.
The magistrats ordain … the goodnes of the aill to be try it be cunsteris
