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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1438, 1499-1648
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Stak(k)er, -ir, Stagger, -are, v. Also: sta(c)kar, stak(k)r-. [ME and e.m.E. staker (Cursor M.), stakir (c1440), stacker (1526), staggar (1530), -er (1533), ON stakra, early mod. Flem. staggeren (Kilian).] intr. To totter, reel, esp. as the result of a blow; to walk stumblingly or unsteadily, to stagger, to stumble. Also in fig. context.(a) 1375 Barb. ii 425.
Sic rout he raucht … He gert him galay [1571 stakker] disyly ?1438 Alex. ii 4208.
Sic routis thay raucht … That neir thay stakker and mycht nocht stand c1420 Wynt. iv 813.
Sum thare stekyd stakarand stud a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 151.
He stakkerit … Half the breid of the hall a1500 Golagros and Gawane 624.
Thair stedis stakkerit in the stour a1500 Golagros and Gawane 929.
Stakrit a1500 King Hart 641.
Stakkir c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) liii 11.
He stackerit lyk ane strummall awer, That hap schackellit war abone the kne c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) liii 17.
Ane hommilty jommeltye juffler, Lyk a stirk stackarand in the ry 15.. Clariodus i 51.
Abake from uther they stakirit with sic forse, Quhill at the grund baith lay man and horse 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 101.
Stakerand almaist failȝeit my feit 1579 Despauter (1579).
Titubo, to stakker [1617 to stagger] a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 289 (W).
I stakkerit at the windilstrayis c1590 Fowler I 148/7.
I fal and ryse, I stakkring stand for schame(b) a1500 Sir Eger 1599.
At both his eares the blood out brist: He staggered on his feet, and stood c1580 in Bann. Memor. 334.
He begouth to staggare … tuyse or thrise he staggered c1614 Mure Dido & Æneas iii 336.
With aged pase … She stagg'ring foorth did show her fordward minde ?a1648 Polemo-Middinia 93.
Staggravere omnesfig. 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 60/126.
Reuenge is myne & payment of the past Thaire fitt shall stakkir then in tyme at last
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"Staker v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/stakker>
