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: 1399-1668
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Ham(m)er, Hem(m)er, n. Also: ham(m)yr, hammar, hamor, hamber; hemmir, hember; halmer. [Late ME. hamber, ME. hamer, -ur, -yr, OE. hamor, -er.] A hammer. See also Fore-, Hand-hammer.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xlvii. 75 (with hameris na ax). c1420 Wynt. i. 227 (wyth hammerys clynkand on a stythy). 1558-66 Knox II. 380 (a steyll hammer). 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 320 (ane irne studie, ane licht hammer). 1585 Edinb. Hammermen III. 37 b (Johne Gilchristis hammer quhilk was drunkin and gevin agane). 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS. 16 July.
To caus mend the sprent of ane of the hammeris of the half houre bellis1668 Edinburgh Testaments LXXIII. 224 b (tuo coutching hamers, ane litle hamer).(b) c1420 Wynt. iii. 100 (ane hamyr and ane nayll). 1463 Peebles B. Rec. 150 (stedy, bellys, hammaris). 1503 Treasurer's Accounts II. 358 (for ane hammyr). 1616 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II. 10.
To be shaftis to ... smythis hamoris(c) c1590 Fowler i. 260/14 (vnpoized hambers strikes vntimely howers). 1606 Edinburgh Testaments XLI. 179 (ane hamber and ane pick). 1618 Master of Works Accounts XV. 67 b (for scharping tuelff dinting aixes and hamberis).(d) 1533 Treasurer's Accounts VI. 160.
For nalis and ane hemmir to the hagbute stokkis 1545 Edinb. Hammermen 168.
For the hemmer and the crovne to the throucht at the alter end 1562-3 Winȝet II. 6/12. 1562-3 Ib. 55/3.
A speir or a spade, a hewmont or a heminer 1577–8 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 465.
For Danskyn irne to be ane calsaye hemmer (e) 1603 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 29.
Ane hember worthe xl d.(f) 1567 Acts III. 43/1.
The fyne tyn pewdar to be markit with the croun and the halmer 1603 Anc. Prophecies 30.
With halmers of steele
b. Attrib. with craft, heid. Hammer ax (aikis, aix), a tool consisting of hammer and axe combined. c1420 Wynt. viii. 6754.
Ane Inglis man had apon a staff Ane hemmyre heid — 1515 Rentale Dunkeld. 207 b.
Pro correctione lie hammyr aikis & mallii eorund. 1564 Glasgow Test. II. 5.
Ane hemmer ax & ane stane ax 1633 Master of Works Accounts XXVI. 19 b.
For four hammer aixis scharping — 1568 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 248.
Thairvpoun the said brether of hammer craft [supra hammermen craft] askit actis
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"Hamer n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/hammer_n>
