A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1533, 1589-1680
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Ort, n. Also: ort-dollour. [MDu. ort (Du. oort) the fourth part of anything, spec. the fourth part of a coin which could be cut into four, MLG. ort id.; subsequently ‘an abbreviation … of Ortsthaler, and used to designate the one fourth Speciesthaler common to many of the German States in the seventeenth century and later’ (A. R. Frey).] a. ? A quarter of a dollar which had been cut into four. b. A coin valued at a quarter-dollar. —1533 Dundee B. Ct. II. 261 (26 Oct.).
To pay to the said Dauid fyve dollouris ane ort of ane dolloure & sex s. Dens xxiiij s. for ilk dolour 1589–90 St. A. B. Ct. 9th Jan.
Three ortis off ane dolor or ellis xxx s. 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 95.
Togidder with twentie twa auld silver dolouris with ane ort of ane dolour 1603 Ib. 104. 1629 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 17.
A nomber of base dollours commounlie callit Embden dollours, the quarter dollours callit the Ort dollours, and the halffe quarter dollours callit the halffe Orts 1644 Hibbert P. 13.
He wold haue for the barrell tar thrie dolloris and ane ort 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 21.
To Mr Robert Lauder ane ort of a rex doller 14/6d.
