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.
Horsman, n. Also: horsman(n)e, horss-, horseman. [ME. pl. horsmen (c 1205), horsemen.]
1. One riding on a horse; esp. a mounted fighting man. Usually in pl.c 1220 Liber Dryburgh 95.]
[Descendendo per viam que vocatur Horsmangate c1420 Wynt. ii. 1248.
For ay thai saw … Thare horsmen in to batayle pryk 1456 Hay I. 49/25.
Ane hundreth thousand of fut men, and twenty thousand horsemen Ib. 113/7.
Hors men, fut men, and schip men 1533 Bell. Livy II. 104/10.
All horsmen … demont haistelie fra thare hors 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 258.
The samin is ane commone passage bayth to horsmen and futemen 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 41.
The Englise armie, foutmen, with thair troupes of horsmen, departed 1596 Dalr. I. 12/19.
Thay ar ay in redines, and al ar hors men 16.. Hist. Kennedy 51.
He was … the brawest horsmanneattrib. 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV. 192 b.
Four dossone … hors mane kameis 1644 Ib. LX. 379.
Ane auld stand of horsmen airmes
b. Used to render L. equites = knights.1596 Dalr. I. 13/8.
In Galloway ar horsmen, barounes, and vthiris noblemen mony
2. A man who attends to horses.1658 Edinb. B. Rec. IX. 102.
They fand … the horsmens housses [at the mill] all ruinous
