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.
Otter, n. Also: ot(t)ir, -yr, -our. [ME. and e.m.E. oter, -ur, otter, -yr, OE. otr, oter, ot(t)er. See also Notyr n.]
1. An otter. Also attrib. with -stalff.Early instances occur in the place-names Otyrburn (? a 1300 Coldstream Chart. 19), Otirburne (1373 Reg. Great S. (1814) 103/2).a1500 Henr. Fab. 904 (Bann.).
Bayth ottour [v.rr. otter] aip and pennytt porcapyne 1482 Edinb. Chart. 167.
Otteris and foulmertis skynnis c1515 Asl. MS. I. xiv.
The buke of the otter and the ele 1533 Boece ii. xiv. 89 b.
Ottirris c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 404.
Me thocht I saw cum fra the see Ane greit otter, rydand to me c1550 Id. Test. Meldrum 107.
My baner … of siluer schene thrie otteris into sabill ?1549 Monro W. Iles (1961) 86.attrib. 1621 Crim. Trials III 499.
Slaughter of vmquhile Robert Huttone … be casting of ane otter-stalff, with ane tua-granet fork of irne at the end thairof, at the said vmquhile Robert
2. The fur or skin of the otter. = Otter-skin(e n.sing. 1530–1 Perth Guildry MS. 193 (23 Jan.).
All vther costly geir mertrik tod or ottirplur. 1570 (1650) Dundee B. Laws 113.
Ane dusen otters, … two disson of toddis 1575–6 Inverness Rec. I. 247.
Four martrykis, sex otteris 1603 Stirling Merch. Guild 20.
Ilk scoir toddis vj d. … ane scoir of otteris xij d.
