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: 1400-1667
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Executour, n. Also: executor(e, execwtwr, exe-, exsi-, exsycutur; exequitour, -tor, exsequitour, -tur, exequutour, -tor, -ter. [ME. executur (c 1280), executour, exequitour, etc., AF. executour, L. execūtor.]
1. The person appointed to execute a will. Executour dative: see Dative a. 2.(a) 1432 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries II. 388.
We the sayd balyhes … thocht it spedful at the said executorys suld sel the said tenement c1460 Vertewis of the Mess 3938.
To … gar say a mes in a manis lyf is mar meritable till his saul heill, na that his executors … gart say jm messis for hyme efter at he be ded 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 161.
Myn aris, executoris and assignais 1562 Will A. Betoun 226.
Hir executors and intromettors with hir haill gudis and geir(b) 1449 Liber Aberbr. 76.
The said Wilyham, his ayris, executouris, and assignais 1489 Acts Lords of Council 104/1.
That Lord Maxwell sulde persew the executouris of the said vmquhile Henry 1527 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 230.
Elizabeth Knox, ane of the executouris of vmquhile Katerine Thomson 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 365.
The frutis of the ground and annet to pertene to the executouris 1589 Edinburgh Testaments XXI. 160 b.
I leif the excres of all my guidis & geir to my executouris 1631 Ib. LV. 173.
My saides executouris … to celebrat my funerall honourablie 1667 Bamff Chart. 311.
For him, his aires, executouris, and all uthers his assigneyes(c) 1460 Peebles B. Rec. 135.
The sayd Jhon … and Thom, thar ayris, exsycuturis, and assygnayis 1460 Ib.
[We] the forsaid balyeis, … our hayris, exsicuturis, and assygnayis 1521 Maxwell Mem. I. 247.
I vil … that the said Georgis, his ayris, executuris, or assignais … sal browyke … the forsaid landis(d) 14.. Reg. Paisley 375.
Of the quhylk soum of thre pwndis, I … my ayris, exsequituris, and essygnys the said Abbot … frely qwytclamys 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 329.
His ayris and exequitouris or assignais 1522–3 Prestwick B. Rec. 50.
As he ys exsequitour to Ilasebeth Red and twtor & intrometowr wyth Angnes Tailȝor & hyr gudis c 1547 Fam. Rose 215.
Our airis, exequutouris and assignais 1577 Stewart Mem. 106.
James Stewart … , my tutor testamentar, exequutor to wmquhill James Stewart my father 1617 Acts IV. 545/1.
A gryit number of ignorant pepill … in the making of thair testamentis … do nominate certane strangearis to be thair exequutoures 1617 Ib.
The saidis exequuteris 1651 Melville Corr. 234.
To bee an awband ovir us twoo that wer left heirs and exequitours
2. One who executes a sentence, summons, etc., or performs some act. c1420 Wynt. vii. 2290.
The byschapys he banysyd but reverens, Execwtwrys [C. executuris] that ware off this sentence 1456 Hay I. 171/34.
Tharefore ar the wikkit men of were bot … executouris of Goddis will 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 256.
The chantour, executor of the office 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 170.
The officiar executore of the summondis passit agane to the said James duelling place 1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 176.
To trye … the persouns divysers, executouris, and partakers of that fact 1607 Highland P. III. 98.
This Allaster wes the personall executour of all the murthouris 1622-6 Bisset II. 58/29.
With ane blank in the lettir to put in the executouris names, … quhilk executouris salbe ane sufficient man [etc.]
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"Executour n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/executour>
