A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Halbert, -bart, n. Also: halbard(e, halbeir, helbert, -bart. [e.m.E. halbert (1647), halbard, -berd(e (1497), OF. hale-, hallebard (15th c.), alabarde (14th c.), of Germanic origin.] A halberd.(a) 1514 Irvine Mun. I. 35.
Speris, axis, halbertis 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 196.
[Four] men … till pas … with halbertis for stanching of inconuenientis that may happin vithin this toun 1541–2 Treas. Acc. VIII. 122.
Ane thowsand takkettis … to mend the faltis of … [486] halbertis 1565 Ib. XI. 389.
To the Kingis grace halbert iij quarteris of reid crammosie weluote Ib. 406. a1578 Pitsc. II. 164/19.
Quhilk Frinch captane defendit himself manfullie, he haueand bot ane halbert(b) 1517 Treas. Acc. V. 122.
The hail munitioun, viz. pikkis, halbartis [etc.] 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 130.
Twa … hable men to watche the samyn [port], ilkane abilyeit with … halbart 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 177.
Lang walpynnis … sic as hand ex, jedburgh staif, halbart, jawalyng 1568 Edinb. Test. I. 182 b.
In plege twa mureonis, ane halbart(c) 1549 Compl. 42/2.
Mak reddy ȝour … lancis, pikis, halbardis, rondellis [etc.] 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 292.
For xij halbardis … to the xij officers, viz. serjands 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 6.
The out-law whiggs … , Some had halbards, some had durks(d) 1566 Digest Justiciary Proc. F. 11.
Fyve hundrethe persounes boddin … with … halbeiris & vtheris vaponis invasiue 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 53.
The said James … borrowit fra me ane bandit helbart, quhilk helbert hie hes halding sene syne
b. Attrib. and comb. with berar, man, schaft.1533 Boece xiii. ix. 517 b.
Ane garde of wageouris or halbert beraris cruell & reddy for tuleȝe 1573 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 85.
[To deliver … nine dozen] halbert schaftis 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Satelles, a halbert man
c. Attrib. with pasment: the reference is possibly to the pattern of the lace. Also shortened to halbart.1602 Tailors Acc. Bk. 14 b.
xx ell of red halbert pasmentis 1607 Edinb. Test. XLIII. 317.
Aucht unces … of halbert pasmentis 1623 Ib. LI. 319 b. —1611 Brechin Test. II. 160.
Aucht vnces of black halbartis. … Ten vnces of cullouris of halbartis
