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.
Half-hyre, n. Also: half-hire. [Half a.] The half of a seaman's pay for a voyage. —c1575 Balfour Pract. 617.
Gif in ony haven ane ship be laidnit, the master may not put away ony of his marineris bot gif he pay to thame thair half hyre1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 21 a.
The childeris ii skotis halff hyris at haime cume fre Danskin is vii skoir xviii lib.1589-1600 Ib. 63 a.
Ane wther temermans half hir vi lib. 2 delisIb. 77 b.
I haue geuene ine for our tw pens of the croune for thar Scotis half hiris and Frenche half hiris xls. 6d.1602 Conv. Burghs II. 132.
At the begynning of thair weyage … thair half hyreis to be payit to them, conforme to the auld vse … , quhilk is ten schillingis scottis for the croun Ib.
Ane duche half hyre, to wit twenty twa gros and ane half for ilk croun Ib. 133.
Ane forane half hyre and ane scotis half hyre
