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.
Nurs, n. Also: nurce, nursce, nuirs, nourse. [e.m.E. and ME. nurse (c 1420), nurce (1587), nource (1546), nourse, also nors(e (Trevisa), norce (c 1420), reduced form of Nuris n. Cf. also Nursh.] A nurse = Nuris n. 1. Also fig. and attrib. —1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 266.
Gevin to hir nursce for small expensis debursit be hir 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. viii.
Debora his [Jacob's] vmwhile mothers nurce 1663–6 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp MS. 28 b.
To Cathrein Sharpes nuirs for ane yeires fie 36/00/00. —fig. 1559 Knox VI. 14.
Mother to all mischeefe and nourse most favourable to superstition —attrib. 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 309.
[For a year's] nurs fie and fostering of ane chyld to her
