A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Spekar, Speikar, n. Also: speak- and -are, -air, -ir, -er. [ME and e.m.E. speker (Manning), spekar (c1400), speiker (c1400), speaker (1542); Spek(e v.]
1. One who speaks, talks or utters.c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark xiii 11.
Ye ar nocht the spekaris, bot the Haligast 1564 Peebles B. Rec. I 293.
Gif ony nebur, beand on the inquest … reweill ony thing that is spokin be the inquest … the baillais sall try the spekair thairof 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 394.
Thair Majesteis sall require the spekar and delatar to gif his complaint or narratioun in writt 1558-66 Knox I 107.
Speakar a1578 Pitsc. II 211/2.
I desyre … [you] to … mak the speikaris thairof liaris 1598–9 Reg. Privy C. V 536.
That quhasoevir sould speik or heir ony evill reporte of him and not reveill the same … the speikar and concelar sould forfault lyffe, landis and guidis
2. One who speaks for or on behalf of another person or a group, a spokesman. Cf. Forspekar(e n.For further information about the office of speaker in the Scottish parliament (1427 quot.) see R. S. Rait The Parliaments of Scotland (1924) pp. 195 and 518-20.c1420 Wynt. viii 1612.
Jhon the Ballyoll … Gert at the bar his spekare stand 1427 Acts II 15/1.
Be thir commissaris of all the schiris sal be chosyn a wise & ane expert man callit the common spekar [1427 Acts (1597) I 16b, speaker] of the parliament the quhilk sal propone all & sindry nedis & caus pertening to the commonis in the parliament or generall consal 1493–4 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 48.
The forsaid spekar [supra forspekar] schavand in jugisment of hir behalf scho was compellit and strenyet throv aw of hir … husband 1567–8 Crim. Trials I i 492.
The said personis of assys … be thair deliverance, pronouncit and declarit be the mouth of the spekir, John Lockhart … , chancilar of the said assys, fand [etc.] 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 152.
Maister James Setoun … and Robert Ramsay clerk in Striviling to be admittit spekaris for thame in the persuit of the said actioun 1600-1610 Melvill 369.
The rest leyed upon me to be speaker, alleaging I could propone the mater substantiuslie, and in a myld and smothe maner
b. In the English parliament: The speaker of the House of Commons.1695 Annandale Corr. 105.
Tewsdays votes would let you know what circumstances the speaker of the house of commons was in
3. One who delivers a (prepared) speech as part of a formal occasion, as in a pageant, sermon, etc.1558-66 Knox II 413.
The speikare [sc. in the General Assembly] allegit, that he menit not of all mynisteris 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 68.
Our souerane ladie come to the salt trone, quhair thair wes sum spekaris; and efter ane litell speitche, thai [etc.] c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. fol. 57.
When the speakeris [sc. in a pageant for the king] were conveened … to receive their particular directions [etc.] c1650 Spalding I 34.
His majesty had ane eloquent speiche making him welcum, and the keyis of the toun offerit to him be the speikar 1653 Strathbogie Presb. 239.
After incalling of the name of God, the speaker being removed, and his doctrine examined, in respect he had got too large a text, both in his former lecture, and also in this sermon 1653 Strathbogie Presb. 238.
Speiker
4. In the above senses with qualifying adjectives indicating the character of what is said, the attitude of the speaker, etc. b. specif. A fare spekar, an orator.1551 Hamilton Cat. 12.
Brekaris of the aucht command ar wrang spekars in jugement quhidder thai be judgis, accusaris … or advocatis 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 513.
Evinsa hes he … maid the sawaris of sic seditious rumouris to appeir … mere calumpniatouris and untrew spekaris a1578 Pitsc. I 184/5.
They caussit certane flatteraris and ewill speikaris to schaw the king that the Duik of Albanie intendit for to have the croune 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 16b.
God abhorris filthie & wickit speikeris, & commowneris 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 93/4.
The execution of lauis that ualde be usid aganis unreuerende speakarisb. a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 130.
Quhat poetis seis, Or fare spekaris [L. orator]
