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.
Pictur(e, -our, n. Also: pi(c)kt-, pykt-; pecktand -oure, -uir, -wr; -or; -ar, -er; -eur; (Pittoner). [e.m.E. and late ME. pycture (Lydgate), pict- (c 1430), pyctour (Caxton), -or(e, L. pictura, f. pict-, ppl. stem of pingere to paint.]
1. A pictorial representation of a person, object, etc., drawn, painted or otherwise produced on a surface; also, the movable object (as a flat tablet of wood or the like) on which this has been done; a picture. b. spec. A likeness of a particular person; (someone's) portrait.Also fig.(1) 1533–4 Treas. Acc. VI. 185.
For thre picturis brocht hame to his grace c 1570 Maxwell Mem. 139.
Ane hyngair of gold … with ane pykter in it 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 25.
Baith be buikis set out and be pictures [etc.] 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 240.
Tua lang reid buistis paintit with flouris in the maist quhairof is xxxiiii pictouris of paper c1590 Fowler II. 57/17.
Picteurs 1624 Edinb. Test. LII. 141.
Ten littill brodis with pictouris 1641 Ib. LX. 15.
Aucht broidis of pictoris c 1662 Wemyss Corr. 109.
My lady wold a had me draun a pecktour on this papr 1681 Stair Inst. ii. i. § 39 (1832) 183.
For if the ground, board or table of a picture belong to one, and the same be painted by another [etc.] 1684 Misc. Bann. C. III. 342.
For the curtines and other necessars for the pickturs 1688 Wemyss Chart. 256.
The furnitur, knacks and a few small picturs of her clositt(2) 1534 Bamff Chart. 65.
The pictour of ane sword, the poynt thairof assendand up to the pictour of ane mans heid 1535 Treas. Acc. VI. 250.
Certane fyne picturis of Flandris coft fra Johne Broune a1578 Pitsc. I. 252 h. of ch.
The schap of the kingis schipe and hir pictour Ib. II. 195/25.
Ane pictour of ane deid bodie 1596 Sc. Hist. Rev. III. 22.
The piktar of the crucifix at the ruif of his ladeis bed 1602 4th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 526/2.
Ane tablet with the piktur of an agget inammallit with reid green and quhyt(3) a1538 Abell 125 b.
He wes knawin thare be his picture c 1580 Q. Mary 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 9.
I wald … knou off me soon if he hes had me book and pictur 1581 Treas. Acc. MS. 93 (2) b.
For certane picturis of his maiesties visage 1587 Warrender P. II. 38.
He had sent his own picture … with Sir Peter 1672 Foulis Acc. Bk. 5.
To David Scougall consigned for to draw my oune picture 1683 Inv. (Donibristle) (9–10 May) 20.(b) 1562 Reeves Sc. Prose bef. 1600 79.
Ane vondrous greit pictoure of ane man callit Golyas a1578 Pitsc. I. 358/21, 23.
Scho … tuik out his pictour … and allis sune as scho luikit to the said pictour scho knew the king incontenent 1583 Conv. Burghs I. 168.
Innernes having the pictour and prentt of oure lady c1600 Montg. Suppl. xii. 35.
Damone … had hir pictour present ay Hung in ane brod befoir his eyes 1606 Edinb. Biblio. Soc. Publ. I. (1893–4) 3.
[A licence] to mak or caus be maid all sortis of … mappis … and piktouris of men and women in prent or in talȝeduce(c) 1659 Mylne Master Masons 140.
Repering of Heriotes pictorfig. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 138/2.
To receaue [in the Eucharist] the pictour and similitude of his lord and master 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 184/10.
Because youre urittis uill remaine as treu pictouris of youre mynde to all posterities [etc.]
c. The art of painting, or of making pictures. d. Pictorial representation, in general (in the quot. from Bann. MS. perh. merely another instance of (1) above).c. a1538 Abell 119 b.
Thir barnis … ar ingenios in picturd. a1538 Abell 56 b.
In picture & ymage hes in a buyk thai ma considdir the sacrimentis & operatioun of our faith a1568 Bann. MS. 229 a/76.
Hir portratour of most plesance All pictour did prevene
e. transf. Outward appearance; form. Cf. Portratour(e n. 4. —1500-1699 Herbarius Latinus Annot. cxlvii (Bot.).
Thir tuo na[mes] ar bayth aine, albeit thai differ in pictuir
f. attrib. and comb.1646 Edinb. Test. LXII. 293 b.
Ane pictour box of gold —1696 Edinb. Test. LXXX. 197.
8 picktor brods worth ix lb. —1684 Misc. Bann. C. III. 333.
James Dewitt pictor drauer —1696 Foulis Acc. Bk. 187.
For my dear bairns picture frame —1649 Wemyss Chart. 234.
My piktor kais 1681 Fam. Rose 372.
Picktwr kes 1683 Wemyss Chart. 255.
Picter kes
2. A solid figure or representation of a person made out of wax, etc.; an effigy or image.1578 Inv. Wardrobe 238.
Ane coffer quhairin is contenit certane pictouris of wemen callit pippennis … mekle and litle … vardingaill for thame [etc.] 1590 Digest Justiciary Proc. M. 16.
Thow art accussit for the making of tua pictouris of clay 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 199.
For making of ane pictur of butter to the … Laird of Fowlis 1590–1 Ib. 240.
The said Agnes preparit ane … pictour of ȝallow walx quhilk sche inchantit and coniurit vnder the name of Archie … in the dewillis name 1591 Ib. 254, etc. 1592 Lothian and Tweeddale Synod 38.
The picture of the crucifix standing upoun the croce heid 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 146.
The pictour and image of ane man ingravit in soft leid … be that forme of pictour thow rostit sindrie tymeis the pictouris of men quhome thow murtherit, rosting thame at the fyre in pictouris of wax Ib. 136. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 44. c1610 Melville Mem. 122.
A litle lettroun wherin wer dyuers litle pictures wrapped within paiper 1617 Brechin Kirk S. in Jervise Memor. Angus & Mearns I. 178.
[The] bischop & haill sessione [thought it] good that all the pictouris be distroyit off the loftis 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 5.
Ane mayd was makand muill pictures and portraittis of clay 1650 Brechin Presb. 27.
He took such ane extraordinarie hote … [and] he was assured his picture was roasting 1661 Forfar Witches in Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 134.
And tormenting off Jannet Mitchell by keeping hir pictur 1697 R. Brown Paisley I. 356.
They intended … to forme the said Christian Shaw's picture
