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: 1400-1685
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Freman, Frieman, n. [ME. fre man, freman, OE. fréoman.]
1. One personally free. c1420 Wynt. v. 3739.
The kyrk … That comowne is … Tyll fre-man, gentill, and to thrall 1456 Hay I. 230/29.
Gif I aw nocht to be [a prisoner], that ȝe wald hald me free mau
2. One having the freedom of a burgh; a burgess. 14.. Acts I. 23/2.
He sall nocht ioyse the fredome of the burgh bot gif he by it and be maid fre man [L. burgensis] 1448 Ayr Burgh Ct. Bk. 30 Sept.
That na man be erdit in the kyrk bot fre men with thar wifis & thar barnis 1480 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 37.
The said merchand sall sell his corne to fremen as best he may 1517 Ib. 170.
Amangis thame that is fremen and burges of the toun 1545 Reg. Great S. 758/1.
The nerrest of the faderis kyn, … beand fremen and induellar within the said burgh 1578 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 70.
The act maid for charging of burgessis … to resoirt to the tovne thay ar maid friemen [of] within fourty dayes 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 274.
That na maner of persones top or brew ony aill … bot fremen and fremenis wyfes 1607 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 165.
In name and behalf of the remanent deikins, … and friemen of Beath 1624 Peebles B. Rec. 365.
[The council] discharges him frome vsing ofony fremanis tred
3. A full member of a gild or craft. 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 32.
He sall serf a master quhill he haf lerit … to be a master, and than to be maid fremen and fallow 1505 Ib. 103.
The saidis maisteris, brether, and friemen of the saidis craftis 1525 Reg. Great S. 97/1.
Na man of the said craft sall … tak ane marrow freman with him quhill it be sene … that he be sufficient werkman 1576 St. A. Baxter Bks. 24.
Gif euer Thomas Alexander … enteris fre man that he sall pay xl s to the craft 1631 Lanark B. Rec. 126.
Conburgessis … of Lanerk, and friemen and breithereine of the walker craft 1641 Acts V. 562/2.
The haill friemen of masonis, boweris, cowparis [etc.] 1685 St. A. Baxter Bks. 47 note.
Whatsomever frieman of the baxter traid that has more stocks or shops than ane
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"Freman n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/freman>
