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: 1502-1576, 1699-1700
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Kelter, n. Also: -ar, -ir, -our. [Also north. e.m.E. kelter (1543), keltar (1580). ? Cf. Early Ir. celtar covering, disguise, cloak, garment (Hessen, Kuno Meyer), Gael. cealtar also thick (grey) broad-cloth (but the latter may be f. Sc.). In the mod. dial. of Orkney only.] = Kelt n.1 b. Attrib. with cote, goun, gray (cloth). 1502 Treasurer's Accounts II. 198.
For making of ane cote of kelter 1504 Ib. 324, 325.
Keltir 1506–7 Ib. III. 250.
For ane maid cote of keltir, black gray lynyt 1506–7 Ib. 251. 1507–8 Ib. IV. 61.
For ane maid jacat of keltir 1576 Orkney Oppress. 72.
xvi elnis of keltarb. 1503 Treasurer's Accounts II. 234.
For ane litill keltir cote to the King 1505 Ib. III. 38.
Ane blak keltir cote 1505 Ib. 40. 1506 Ib. 300. a 1700 Lord of Lorn in Child Ballads (1898) V. 54/2.
He put him in an old kelter coat And hose of the same above the knee, He bid him go to the shepherd's house [etc.] — 1560 Peebles B. Rec. I. 259.
Frater Gilbertus … pro timore vite sue et distructionis sui … monasterii mutabat suum habitum vestendo suum album habitum in alterum colore[m] vulgo vocatur gray keltour govne et vnum lie how blak bonet — 1536 Treasurer's Accounts VI. 296.
To be standing housouris to the grete hors, x elnys kelter gray
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"Kelter n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/kelter>
