A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Ste(a)rch, n. Also: stearche, steartch, starch, stirck. [ME and e.m.E. starche (Prompt. Parv.), sterche (15th c.).] Starch. Also attrib.1655 Acts VI ii 828/2.
For all starch upon every twenty shillings value … to be paid by the first maker one shilling 1659 Dumfries Council Min. MS 31 Oct.
Chapmen & craimers … that they sell no stable goods save the retailling of stearche rape & tobacco 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 610.
The inland trade is small commodities, such as soap, stearch [etc.] 1695 Acts IX 365/1.
An act in favors of Robert Douglas for establishing a manufactory in Leith of soap work, sugar, purslin, lame works and stearch 16.. Admir. Ct. Form 65b.
Stirck indigo is made in Holland for skaithing or stiffing of wheat 1701 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI 178.
For a pund steartch wheite, 6 shil. 1702 Old Ross-shire I 205.
Sterchattrib. 1658–1700 Greyfriars Interments 26.
Sterchmaker
