A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1497-1661
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0]
Ruf(e)-spar, Ruif(f)-spar, n. Also: ruife-, rwif(f)-, rouf(e)-, rowff-; ruff(e)-; roofe-, rooff-, roiff- and -spair, -spare; -sparr(e; -spear. [Ruf(e n.1 and Spar n.1 Cf. e.m.E. roofe-spar (once, 1648).] A beam or smaller piece of timber for use in the construction of a roof; ? a rafter; also, used as a load-bearing member in other constructions.In pl., freq. without inflection.(1) uninfl. pl. 1497 Treasurer's Accounts I 331.
xviij ruf spar to Hannis toure of Dunbar 1503 Ib. II 272.
For jc ruf spar, ilk pece ij s. j d. 1535–6 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 180.
vii pece ruiff spar of xviii futis lynth 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. II 45.
To ane wrycht to wirk the rufe spair thairof [sc. three shops] 1628 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 263.
Thrie ruif spare 1629 Ib. 252.
iiii schort ruif sparepl. 1508 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 117.
And to be of lenth the ruf sparris according to the widnes of the hous 1512 Treasurer's Accounts IV 293.
Ruff sparris 1543 Aberd. B. Rec. MS (Jam.).
Greit treis, rwif sparris, garrownes 1558 Treasurer's Accounts X 426. 1582 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 206.
The schip … cum from Norrovay contenand … twa hundreth ruif spearis [etc.] 1599 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 321.
To the sawisteris … for xii drauchtt of small rowff spairis 1615 Ib. 360.
Tua divisiouns of parpan walles … of lath and roufe spares 1661 Acts VII 253/2.
Rooff sparrs of oak(2) uninfl. pl. 1562–3 Edinb. Old Acc. II 180.
Twa ruffe spar to bind the portell 1581 Treasurer's Accounts MS 98 (2) b.
Certane daillis and ruiff spar … for the … repairing of his hienes staiblis 1592 Edinb. B. Rec. V 351.
xl ruif spar to lay the fluring onpl. 1531–2 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 97.
For reparing of the … armoraris chalmer and hous vi akin ruf sparris 1589 Mill Mediæval Plays 196.
Tua grit ruife sparis … to be standartis to the skaffald 1595 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 580.
ix ruiff sparis to be angelleris to the scoolesing. 1583 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 178.
Ane aikkan rufe spar to be roungis & skackis to the saidis ledderis(3) uninfl. pl. 1582 Treasurer's Accounts MS 43.
Four double rwiff spar tobe standaris to everie traveis 1608 Misc. Spald. C. V 84.
Twa syngill ruiff spar to be angleris 1608 Ib.
Three dubill ruiff spar to be twa jebettis 1617 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 26.
30 great double ruif spar at 30 s. the peice 1619 Ib. 135.
Sex scoir ten double ruif spar for geistis at 24 s. the peice 1633 Ib. 310.
Twentie dowble ruiff spar … for outtredding the timber yaird 1633 Ib.
xii great dowble ruiff spar at xl s. the peice 1633 Ib. 334.
Halff hundereth great single ruiff spar for biging of some timber stabillis … at xvi s. the peice 1633 Ib. 335.
Fourteine small single ruiff spare at vii s. viii d. the peice 1633 Ib. 350, etc.
Threttie nyne small dowble ruiff spar at xxxii s. the peicepl. 1595 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 580.
x doubill ruiff sparis to be lathe to the sangscoole 1599 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 316.
Thre double ruiff sparis to the bilyaird buird at xvi s. the peice 1611 Ib. 329.
Sex double rouf sparis and xii single at xviii s. the on and ix s. the other 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 329.
Dowble ruif sparis the hundreth xl li., single roofe sparis the hundreth xx li. 1622 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 147.
For sawing viii doubill rufe sparres for warping to the wardrop pressis 1626 Ib. 197.
For carying of xxiiii doubill ruife sparres … to the castell to be gantreississing. 1600 Criminal Trials II 195.
He saw ane fallow bering ane singill roiff spar on his schoulder 1615 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 375.
Ane dowbill ruiff sparr
