A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Offer, n. Also: -err, -ir(r, -eir, -ar, -or; offre. [Late ME. and e.m.E. offre (1433), offer, F. offre (11th c.), f. Offer,v.]
An offer, in senses of Offer v., esp. sense 3; a tender, a proposal, an undertaking.Also to mak (ane) offer and const. of the thing offered and to do something.(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 697.
That he suld speik first with King Nicolas Mak him offeris and exortatioun [etc.] 1528 Douglas Corr. 344 (see Offer v. 5 a).
Offoris 1554 Crim. Trials I. i. 372.
Gif thir offiris be nocht suffecyent thocht be the … frendis of the deid 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 158.
[He] did be thai presentis accept the offer and offeris and wald preif be the law of armes that [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 40/21.
The earle … nocht wnderstanding na cullorit wordis and offeris 1587 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 139.
This day at efternone we have trystit to ga doun and to enter to our offres 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 141.
His defalt in bying … ingyeouns arryvet at Leyth without offer to the toun 1596 Dalr. I. 149/27.
Bot quhen he saw how hulie speid he cam for al his fair offirr 1597 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 67.
Offaris aggriet on be the commissionaris of borrowis anent the customes and bullioun in thair last conventioun 1669 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 67.
Whither the unfreemen that makes the offerr does sell ther commodities at lower rates then they offer to the counsell(2) 1519 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 152.
[Being ready] to her ony offer of mendis 1588 Laing MSS. I. 75.
I am moved to mak offre to your lordship of one in his place 1671 Glasgow Trades House 452.
Offeir made to the toun of the ship of [etc.](3) 1456 Hay I. 186/20.
Sen thai maid offer to passe sobirly and curtaisly 1584 Dysart Gleanings 42.
The bell man … to pas twys throwche the town to the offer to chois new baillies
b. The opportunity of making an offer for something which is up for sale. The first offer = the first refusal.1678 Rothesay B. Rec. 360.
He … shall be obleist … to give the first offer therof to John Gally my sone and to give him doune twenty merks that any other will offer for the same
