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.
Legare, Leager, n. Also: leguere, -ure, leigour, leaguer, -wer, -ure, -uir, leagre. [e.m.E. legar, legher (1577), leagre, -er, -uer, -ure, Du. leger. Cf. Liggar.] A (fortified) military camp, esp. one engaged in a siege; an investing force. Also in leigour, encamped, and attrib. with boll, chist.(1) 1639 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 82.
Joyed at hart I am to fynd … that your Matie intends to lay in the leguere, and … to take the caere of the army youre selfe Ib. 90.
Now your Matie is secured in your legare so many men you may spare(b) 1637 Monro Exped. 133.
This leaguer … at all sorting ports being well foreseene with slaughtbomes and triangles 1639 Johnston Diary (1896) 46.
[The] regiments marched with the canon to the leaguer a little bewest Dunglas and encamped there 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 474.
He was taken prisoner be the King of Sweden … when he bade his leaguer about that toun 1646 Lanark Presb. 51.
James Lockhart … being found to have frequented James Grahames leagre a1676 Guthry Mem. (1747) 200.
His error, in keeping so open a leagure at Bothwel, whereby men came to be admitted, that had thus debauched his army 1667 Highland P. II. 43.
They ran to M'Gorrie's leagwer a1686 Turner Mem. 6.
My best entertainment was bread and water, … but this proceeded from want of money, for the leager was plentiful enough(2) 1650 S. Leith Rec. 93.
The Scots armie lying in leigour in Leith and about it(3) attrib. 1651 Buccleuch Mun. II. 289.
Ane silver legar boll 1694 Inchmahone Priory 164.
Tuo yron chists, ane legure chist
