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: 1375-1513
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Eld-fader, -fadir, n. Also: -fadyr(e, eild-fadir. [ME. eldefadir (Chaucer), eildfader, OE. ealdfæder.]
1. A grandfather. 1375 Barb. xiii. 694.
Ane knaiff child, … That eftir his gude eld-fadir was Callit Robert 14.. Acts I. 359/2.
The tother wif sall duell in the principall wonnyng of hir husband … discendande of his fader and his eldfader c1420 Wynt. iii. 823.
Hys douchtyr sone … Forbare na thyng for tyll assayle Hys eldfadyr Astrages 1456 Hay I. 41/6.
Thai … maid were to King Emuly, the quhilk had banist thair eldfader out of the contree 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 124.
Sandy Cant … sal pay for his fredom x s., … borch for hym his eld fader, John Mador
2. A father-in-law. 1513 Doug. vi. xiv. 58.
Cesar, the eldfader … our the Franch montanys Discendand … His mavch Pompey sall strech agane him went 1513 Ib. vii. v. 81.
Lat the eldfader [Sm. eild fadir] and mawch knyt vp frendschip
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"Eld-fader n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/eld_fader>
