A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1505-1617
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Quhis(s)il(l)ar, -illair, n. Also: quhissellair; quhislar, -er, whisler; quhuslar, quheslar. [ME and e.m.E. whistlere (Piers Plowman), whystelare (Prompt. Parv.), whisler (1652), OE hwistlere.] A piper or flute-player.1505 Treasurer's Accounts III 98.
To the quhissellair 1505 Ib. 143.
Quhissilar 1505 Ib. 146.
Quhissillair 1531 Ib. VI 37.
Quhisilarris 1532 Ib. 92.
Quhisillar 1538 Ib. 399.
iiij tabernaris and iij quhislaris [Crim. Trials I 292, quhuslaris] 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III 57 (see Quhissil(l n. 1 (3)). 1588 James VI Poems II 137/41.
The quhisler [v.r. whisler] Pan 1596 Oldcambus Acc. 16.
Robertt the quheslar 1617 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 92.
To the Earle of Abircornes tabernour and quhisler for attending the youthes at the moreis dance the nycht of the fyrwarkis
