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.
Proffer, -ir, n. Also: proffyr(e, profer(e, -err, -or. [ME and e.m.E. profer (c 1350), profre (1390), profire (?a1400), profur (a1425), proffer (c1400), AN profre (a1240 in Godef.). Cf. Peroffer n.] An act of offering in senses of Proffer v.; an offer; a proposal.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii 41.
Twa erlys … Come … To … ferme a maryage Wyth gret profferis [C. perofferis] Ib. 1241.
He proffryd hym the crown. … Wyth this proffyre [C. peroffer, W. proffer] the Erle Dawy Thankyd hym Ib. 6845.
Na nane proffyre wald thai here Off mesowre for pryd off thare powere Ib. 6874.
Mesurabill is gud to be, And here proffyre off honeste c1475 Wall. ii 39.
And for a strak he bad him grottis thre. The churll grantyt, of that proffir was fayn Ib. vi 361.
Proffyr 1483 Acta Aud. *122/1.
It is sene & vnderstand … be the instrument of the said proffir … becaus … pament [was] profferit in blac mone [etc.] a1500 Seven S. 59.
Quhen thai thir profferis maid had 1513 Doug. vii iv 103.
Nor lichtly not forthy our frendly proffer Quhilk of our fre will onrequirit we offir Ib. iv iii 34, xii ii 148, xiii vi 163. 15.. Clar. i 269.
Sa monie prinsis … Ȝe had in proffer, quhom ȝe list to take(b) 1468 Smit Bronnen I ii 1019.
And gyff it plesyt … ȝowr worthi consell to wryt on tyll owr soveran lord and his consell … with ȝowr gudly proferys 1477 Peebles B. Rec. I 182.
And the said Thomas maid this profor at thre cowrtis 1535 Stewart 22867.
Sayand thai wald heir nane of thair desyre … Of na profer that tha can put thame till(2) 1556 Prot. Bk. Sir A. Gaw (S.R.S.) 37.
[Robert Berich] sal haf the first loif and proffir of the said xii part(3) 1679 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 331.
And because … there was proferr made by the bishop and synod unto these who should advance seven yeers of the said annuitie togither that they should be exonered of paying [etc.]
