A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1424-1425, 1627-1700+
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Thiggar, -er, Thigster, n. [Thig v. Also in the later dial.] A beggar, one who solicits subsistence from others. Also proverb. — 1424–5 Acts II 8/1 (see Thig v. 1 b).
Thiggar 1673 Rothesay B. Rec. 245.
That na persoune or persounis within this brughe presume to give support of cornis beir meill or utheris to any thiggars or incummers within the same 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 16.
Beggars (or thigsters who are gentle beggars) should have a token from the sheriff 1724 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 243.
Nor are you to allow any beggar or thigger from any other parish to pass through your bounds —proverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1535.
Thiggers sould be na threiperis
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"Thiggar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/thiggar>
