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.
Library(e, -ie, Liberarie, n. Also: librairie, liberary. [e.m.E. and ME. librarie, lybrarye (14th c.), library, lyberary (15th c.), liberary, OF. librairie, med. L. libraria, L. librārium. Cf. Librar n.1 and Librall n.] A library.
a. A building or room in which books are housed. Also library-house.(1) 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 175.
That ane commoun librarie sall be erectit … to the greitt incres of pietie 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. V. 67.
For peittis and coillis to try thame [four witches] in the librarie tua dayes befoir the executioun 1632 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 40.
The haill bookes within the kirk librarie to be transportit to the said librarie within the colledge 1636 Dundee Chart. 172.
Ane of the keyes of the librarie shall remaine in the custodie of the kirkmaister of this burgh 1642 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 6.
That the said librairie sall be build betwix [etc.](b) 1619 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 283.
The haill liberarie to be tirrit and the gestis thairof to be takine upe 1649 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 216.
To put knoks upoun the twa dooris of the liberarie(2) 1631 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 2.
To give … ten pund for the stanes vntane doun in the said liberarie hous 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 797.
The advocats proposed to cause print the catalogue of their books [and] to build or buy a library-house
b. A collection of books, for private or public use.(a) 1616 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 368.
To pay to the librarie of St. Androis as the vther burghes dois 1641 Acts V. 646/1.
A sufficient maintenance … for … furneshing of libraries … in everie … colledge(b) 1643 Lanark Presb. 33.
Books borrowed out of their liberarie 1664 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II. 480.
There will be necessar for the help of the Universities liberarie whiche is verie small and hathe no considerable wayes to be bettered, the soume of [etc.] 1685 Skene Mem. Burghs 154.
[The magistrates should] make up a publick liberary of such books as are most fit for … persons in publick trust 1704 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 155.
c. fig.1549 Compl. 7/3.
I began to reuolue the librarye of my vndirstanding, ande I socht all the secreit corneris of my gaȝophile
