A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1506-1618
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Rokkar, -er, n. Also: rock-; rok-. [e.m.E. (? and late ME) rokkere (15th c.); Rok v. 1.] A nurse or other attendant whose duty it was to rock a child in its cradle.In at least some instances involving royal infants, given as a charge to women of rank.(a) 1506–7 Treasurer's Accounts III 275.
For tua feder beddis to the nuris and rokkaris 1507 Ib. IV 83.
To foure rokkaris in the princes chamir 1507–8 Ib. 70.
To foure rokkaris of the princis, ane ȝeris fee 1515–16 Ib. V 74.
To the vj rokkaris and nurisis of the kingis 1541 Ib. VII 477.
Rokkerris 1598 Ib. MS 110b.
Foure stuillis to the rokkeris 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 7.
As being, or as keeper of the said Margaret Barclay's bairns and rocker of the creddill(b) 1566–7 Treasurer's Accounts XII 22.
jc elnis of lynnyng to serve in the prince chalmer to be scheitis to the rokeris 1567–8 Mar & Kellie MSS 18.
Rokaris 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V 355.
Baptism of Princess Elizabeth … To the nureis, rokeris medwyfeis and porteris
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"Rokkar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rokkar>
