Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Martir, v. Also: martyr(e, -ter, -tar, -thir, -thyr, -ther. [ME. and e.m.E. martir, -tyr, -ter, early ME. martri, martren, OE. (ᵹe)martyrian, (ᵹe)martrian.]

1. tr. To put to death as a martyr, to make a martyr of.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 220.
Of hyme that marterit ware fore Thé c1420 Wynt. vii. 762.
Saynt Thomas Done to dede and martyryd wes 1456 Hay I. 169/16.
All the haly rychtwis folk that he mycht ourtak he put to dede and marterit thaim c1475 Wall. xi. 1279.
Now thai him kep to martyr in London toun a1500 Quare Jel. 366.
Ymarterit c1515 Asl. MS. I. 209/13.
Eduard … martyrit in his tyme the haly man Thomas of Lacistere 1531 Bell. Boece I. 187. 1535 Stewart 15034. Arundel MS. 276/21.
Se how He martirit wes with Jowis 1622-6 Bisset II. 315/15.
Sanct Epaphias … wes martared under Nero(b) 1533 Boece xiii. iv. 505 b.
Preistis … be his command war marthirit Ib. viii. x. 271 b. 1561 Q. Kennedy Oratioune 16.
Cypriane, quha wes martherit for the fayth

2. To kill in a merciless, cruel or brutal manner, to slaughter; also, to martyr doun. Also fig.(a) c1475 Wall. i. 423.
Your men ar martyrit doun Rycht cruelly Ib. iv. 377.
Wallace … martyris thaim doun c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 336.
The false inhumane tyrrane gart sla man, woman and child, and sua war martyrit sevin hunder and fiftie pepill 1533 Boece 19 b.
Marthirit 1535 Stewart 38070.
Edwardis bruther wes marterit of the new Be his noverk 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10695.
Als we giue on hir rebald sentence … merciles to be marterit 1588 Crim. Trials I. ii. 163.
Gif scho wald … tell of thame and thair doingis thay sould martir hirfig. a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxxix. 15.
Absence is ane homiceid To martyre men maist cruellie(b) 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 14.
Not only of Troianys … The blude is sched, thus marthyrit [1553 murtherit] and slane down Ib. vi. viii. 49.

3. To inflict savage injury on, to maim or mutilate. Also fig. 1535 Stewart II. 670 heading.
[Harold] mareit the duikis dochter of Normondy and … marterit this fair ladie and send [hir] to hir father a1578 Pitsc. (1814) 306.
Bot this William Meldrum of Bines was evill martyred, for his hochis war cutted [etc.] 1598 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 107B/1.
[They] … maist crewellie marterit murdreist and threw doun in the sea his cumpany & seruandisfig. 1549 Compl. 183/30.
Thir freuole sophistaris that marthirs and sklandirs the text of Aristotel

4. To inflict grievous or protracted pain or suffering upon, to torment. fig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 329.
Thair woxe I sa vnmerciable to martir him I thought a1568 Scott xxi. 27.
Thow sufferit hir to sleip full soft Quhair mirthles I wes marterit oft Throw fremitnes of thé c1590 Fowler I. 24/4.
Of my longsome martyrdome that martered had my hart