A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1405-1626
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Doar(e, n. Also: doiar, doyar. [f. Do v. Cf. Doer.]
1. One who does some act or deed. 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Yhe sulde … put blame & punicioun to the doarys of the saide trespas c1420 Wynt. v. 273.
Offt walde he … ger the doarys punysyd be c1420 Ib. v. 300.
Off marwelus and gret dedys sere He wes bathe doare and kennere 1456 Hay I. 299/16.
The condicioun of the caus, … and the entencioun of the doaris 1456 Ib. II. 27/18.
Gif a knycht himself be the … doare of thir thingis 1493 Acts Lords of Council 273/2.
Huchone Alanesone [etc.] … beand at the said spuilȝe and principale doaris thairof c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 12.
Ane commoun doar of transgressioun Of innocent folkis prevenis a futher 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 184.
Vnder the pane of xx li. to be tane of the doare in the contrar a1578 Pitsc. I. 177/8.
To bring the doaris … to the kingis iustice … or ellis … to be haldin doars of the samin [crime] a1578 Ib. II. 273/29.
The principall doar of this 1586 Inverness B. Rec. I. 307.
The saidis laidis … to remane … quhill the dettouris and doyaris heirof war comprehendit 1599 Elgin Rec. II. 70.
That Grissall Jhounstoun and Bessie Corben be causit stand besyde the joiggis quhill thair headis be clippitt, and Gilbert Gadderer salbe the doar thairoff 1614 Highland P. III. 172.
The gentilman quha has bein my moyenner and doar of this seruice
2. One who acts for another; an agent or factor. 1465 Tytler Hist. Scotl. II. 388.
He sal warn the saidis Lord Kennedy and Sir Alexander, or thair doars 1466 Acts II. 87/1.
At na drynk siluer be tane be the maister nor his doaris c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vi. 285.
Throuch all Ingland he gart his doaris cry Power to get 1494 Acts Lords of Council 370/2.
To preif … that the chapellane … was factour and doare for the said Alexander in bying and selling 1549 Treasurer's Accounts IX. 331.
The hous of Armetage … suld have bene … gevyn to the Dene of Dunkeld … to deliver it to the handis of my lord governour, and his doarris 1567 Lanark B. Rec. 35.
Thes [cloaks] the balleis decernit to be delyverit to the said lady Lie, or hir doiaris in her name a1578 Pitsc. II. 280/25.
Ane gentilman and ane principall doar to the regent … was slaine 1595 Edinburgh Testaments XXVIII. 304.
Scho constitut … Iohnne Rankene … and Petir Hammiltoun tutouris, … oursearis, and doaris to hir bairneis 1610 Criminal Trials II. ii. 326.
Becaus the depouner wes a doar, in procuireing of Agnes Seytoun lyvrent of the rowme of Colone 1622-6 Bisset II. 255/8.
The actioun of doing of uthir mennis erandis can nocht be persewed against the guidis … sua done for be the doar
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"Doar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/doare>
