A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375-1380, 1436-1694
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Rub(b)our, Roub(b)our, -or, -er, -ar, n. Also: rubbowr, -ur; rowbour(e, -owr, -ur, -er, -art; rwiber; rob(b)our, -ur. [Obs. north. ME rebbour or robbour (1362–3), rubbour (1404), med. L. rubboura (1463 in Latham, who suggests a connection with e.m.E. rove, med. L. arrova, Sp. arroba a liquid measure). Of unknown origin.] A cask or keg.Appar. made in at least two different sizes, one of which held five gallons, the other (see the quot. for 1592) only one gallon.1373 Exchequer Rolls II 449.
[In octo paribus de robburre remanentibus, cum seruicio cuparij 1380 Ib. III 43.
Ligatura de roboure 1436 Ib. IV 683.]
Pro diversis expensis … regis ultra montes … in tentoriis, panyhellis, rubbouris, canubio [etc.](a) 1459 Exchequer Rolls VI 502.
Pro uno pare de lez rubbouris pro dicto vino Rinensi 1488–9 Acts Lords Auditors 120/1.
Rubbowris 1492–3 Acts Lords of Council I 280/1.
For certane panȝell crelis and rubbouris 1494 Treasurer's Accounts I 252.
For ane rubbour to the ter 1504 Ib. II 430.
For iiij rubbouris to put powder in to pas in the Ilis 1522 in Jamieson, s.v. Roubbouris.
Cariage hors … for carying of rubbouris, crelis & vtheris cariage 1552 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 201b (2 Dec.).
Ane rubbour of aile 1553 Ib. fol. 232b (9 June).
Rubbur 1554–5 Ayr Common Good Acc.
To ane cowper for four rubbovris to tak herene to Ed[inburgh] 1562 Will A. Betoun 224.
v aill rubberis and twa wyne rubberis 1600-1610 Melvill 168. 1608 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 117.
James Myln in Elgyn hes my flacon or rubber to fill with aquavetie 1640 Maxwell Mem. II 276.
If thare bee good seke … bye ane but … , and cause draw it out in rubburs for four horse to carie 1644–5 Aberd. B. Rec. IV xix.
Rubbor(b) 1498–9 Acts Lords of Council II 297.
Ane pair of robbouris(c) 1507 Rentale Dunkeld. (S.H.S.) 124.
[8] rowburris [and 6 stoups (amphore)] 1512–13 Treasurer's Accounts IV 470.
Rowbowris 1513 Ib. IV 474.
For ane rowbour of Malvesy contenand v gallownys 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 182.
And that the maist part of the said cariage be furnist with roubouris for carying of wyne and aile 1525 Household Bks. Jas. V 87.
ij lez roubbouris vinj 1547 Reg. Great S. 20/2 n.
6 rowbouris, ilk ane of thame contenand 5 gallonis, price of the pece 30 d. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2224.
Sax gret rowbouris of wycht wyne 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 194.
With tua roubors [? for tar] 1566 Protocol Book of Thomas Johnsoun 102.
Ane litill rowboure 1585 Perth B. Ct. 12 Oct.
Thre rouberis aquavite 1585 Edinburgh Testaments XIV 209b.
Twa roubouris of ollie contenand ten gallones 1592 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 117.
[The measures given are, a] rowber [(?) of wine containing eight pints] 1594 Edinburgh Testaments XXVII 299.
Fyve acquauitie tume rowbartis price vij s. vj d. 1622 Breadalbane Doc. No. 428.
Roubouris 1668 Rothesay B. Rec. 149.
A draught rowber(d) 1513–14 Sc. Ant. XII 119.
Gudis and geir … sic as palȝounis, harnes, jakkis, crelis, rubouris and uther necessaris for osting 1621 Ellon Presb. 109.
Rubors 1658 Dumfries Council Min. 16 Jan.
Declairit that he had onlie vented fyve barrellis or ruberis of wyne during that space 1659 Argyll Sas. I 158.
6 barrels of Lochfyne herrings (of which 6 little barrels, called rubouris, equal 2 large barrels) 1673 Leith Customs 16.
4 dozen faces for rubers 1694 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 122.
Rubar(e) 1662 Dumfries Council Min. 6 Oct.
Ane rwiber of sek(f) 1549–50 Treasurer's Accounts IX 365.
Foure roburris of aill 1567 Edinburgh Testaments I 52b.
Ane barrekyn and robour of wyne 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 333.
Robouris for vinagir
