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.
Quotation dates: 1496-1531, 1586, 1684
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Half-ȝeir, Halff-ȝhere, n. Also: half-yeir; halȝar, halyar. [ME. half yeer, OE. healf ᵹéar.] A half-year. — 1496 Edinb. Hammermen 13.
Fra David Halis for the entre of the payment of sanct Loys bred beforhande for the first halȝar, xx s. 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. 104.
The borcht … tveching the vrangvis haldin of ane halyaris kovis gyrs 1531 Reg. Soltre 100.
To ressaue tuenti schillingis for the first halff yheris bontay 1586 Grant Chart. 291.
To his servandis for thair half ȝeiris feis 1684 Dumfries & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI. 164.
Sybilla Mcadam ... depones she hes not been in church this half yeir
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"Half-ȝeir n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/half_3eir>
