A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456-1626
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Man of wer(e, n. Also: weir, veyr, wear(e, war(e, warr(e, man a weir and man weir. Plur.: men of were etc. [e.m.E. man of werre (1449), warre (1484), F. homme de guerre.]
1. A soldier, a fighting man.sing. 1456 Hay I. 159/22. 1456 Ib. 161/4, etc.
He is nocht … worthy man of were 1474 Treasurer's Accounts I. 68.
To the Dens man of were c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 205.
The constable a felloun man of wer … to the Scottis … did full mekill der c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 418. a1578 Pitsc. I. 288/9. 1587 Carmichael Etym. 19.
Miles, a man of weirplur. 1456 Hay I. 232/8. 1456 Ib. 162/25, 176/15, etc.
All men of were ar free to do thair spede apon the kingis inymyes ?a1500 Remembrance of the Passion 650.
To keip Him the Jowis put men of weir a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 466. c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 6.
In deid of armis … Most mychti, wyse … Thy men of weir to governe 1547 Reg. Privy C. I. 80.
To fee wageouris and men of weir for recovering of the same place 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 15/1, etc.
To gar the men of veyr retere c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 135.
Gif ȝe be worthie men of weir c1550 Ib. 701. 1551 Hamilton Catechism 197.
All men of weir … beiris apon thame thair princis baige 1559 Peebles B. Rec. I. 253.
The sojarris and allegit men of weir 1559–60 Ayr B. Acc. 33. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1962. 1558-66 Knox I. 119. 1558-66 Ib. II. 74.
I shall lodge all the men-of-ware into my eae that shall land in Scotland 1565 Moncreiffs 99. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 71.
His men of weir and servandis ishued out of the castle 1569-73 Ib. 240. 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 379.
Be reasoun thay war wrakit be the men of weir 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 132. a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS cviii. 9.
Of men a weir the bandisa1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xxi. 14. 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 270. a1578 Pitsc. I. 174/11. a1578 Ib. 257 h. of ch.
How the King … gat [pr. gart] wot of his men of weiris falsheid a1578 Ib. II. 170/15, etc. 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 415. 1591 Criminal Trials I. 228. 1596 Dalr. I. 96/15, 158/33, etc.
2. A warship, a naval vessel.1513 Treasurer's Accounts IV. 492.
Resauit fra ane Franche man of were at the command of Delamote and send to the Margret 1513 Ib. 494. 1523 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 212. 1557–8 Criminal Trials I. i. 400.
For newis, thir schippis that is cumit to Leyth is menne of weir and Scottis merchandis 1570 Leslie 227.
Thair arrivit … a xxv saill of men of war 1608 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 320.
Thair said schip was takin be ane man weir (being boun to Lisburne) of Holand 1622-6 Bisset II. 229/35.
Be there men of wear
