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.
Stalkar(e, n. Also: -er, stalcar. [e.m.E. stalker (1585) a walker, (1675) a stalker; cf., also, ME and e.m.E. stalker (1389) a poacher's net; Stalk v.]
1. A person employed to stalk game. Also, once, in a place-name.1602 Retours I Inq. Spec. Elgin et Forres (7).
Stalkeriscroft, Cowperis-croft 1424 Acts II 7/2.
That the justice clerk sall inquyr of stalkaris that slais der … ande of the haldaris & mayntenaris of thaim 1460 Exch. R. VI 638.
Allocate compotanti … per solucionem factam Johanni Gar, stalkare, de eodem [regis] mandato literatorio 1461 Exch. R. VII 60.
Et Gilegar, stalkar, pro firmis terrarum sibi assedatarum ex mandato domine regine … iij li. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 389.
To Dougale Makneil, stalkar, iij Franch crounis 1503 Treas. Acc. II 398.
To the Erle of Ergiles stalkar 1504 Exch. R. XII 205.
Stalcar c1575 Balfour Pract. 542.
Stalkeris that slayis hart, hynd [etc.] … sould be inquirit be the Justice-Clerk; and the stalker being convict, payis to the King 40 s. and his mantenar payis 10 lib. 14.. Acts (1597) Table s.v. Stalkers.
Stalkers
b. A person who stalks and hunts game, a hunter.1513 Doug. iv ii 40.
Wandris, as ane strykkyn hynd, quhom the stalkar … from far betis with hys flane 1518 Glenartney Doc.
Becaus … ȝe … vnderstandis nocht … how ȝe sal punis sic trespassouris and specealy commone stalkaris and huntaris 1533 Boece 177.
That na stalkaris suld sla ane hart … nor hound ane baggit hynde bot abstene fra thare persute all the wynter
2. A person who prowls about for the purpose of stealing, a prowler.c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 157 (B).
Lyk twa stalkaris steilis in cokis and henis Thow plukkis the pultre and scho pullis of the penis
