A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Post-, Poist-boy, Poistes-boy, n. [e.m.E. post-boay (1588), -boy; Post n.2 7.] A postmaster's (Postmaister n. 1) servant employed to carry the mails; a postal courier. —1603 Reg. Privy C. VI 566.
The said Johne Killoche [postmaster] salbe ansuerable … for his servandis and poist boyis that thai sall deliver na by letters … by the pacquett and of favour … befoir first they haif delyverit the pacquet to the nixt post 1615 Crim. Trials III 285.
That ane poist-boy was cum frome Orkney with lettres to the lait Erle of Orkney 1624 Argyll Rentals 11 Nov.
To harperis poistes boyis ferreris drink silveris 1631 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. IV 349.
Quhereas the said postboy aucht in duetie to have caried the same [packet] himselfe to the toun of Hadintoun and to have delyvered it to the postmaister there
