A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1683
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Truker, Trucour, Truiker, Treukour, n. Also: trucur, trwcur, trukour, truikour, trewcour, trewkar, -er, troucer, trooker, truccour, trucker, tricker. [ME truke(n v. (c1175) to deceive, troke(n, truke(n (both Layamon) to fail, OE trucian. Also in the later dial., appar. fallen together with an agent noun f. Truk v. to bargain, deal.] A dishonest or disreputable person; a rogue, rascal, miscreant, ne'er-do-well.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2101.
I … That had nocht in my hand sa mekill gude As staff or sting ȝone truker for to stryke a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i 75.
And ȝit scho callit to hir cheir … A trumpour a trvcour A hangman a hasardour [etc.] a1538 Abell 26a.
The nobillis … tuik him & slew him with all the trwcuris at his confidence wes in a1538 Abell 108b.
Trucur 1535 Stewart 17743.
Dioclesian Ane tryit trucour, full of tirranie a1578 Pitsc. I 221/12.
Thir fallis trukeris quhilk cause ȝour grace to beleif ewill on my handis(b) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2466 (Ch.).
Put thir tryit truikers [sc. Flattery, Falsehood and Deceit] from Christis congregation 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2573.
Truikour(c) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1001.
Our spirituall fatheris hes ws so abusit, Agane our wyll those treukouris bene intrusit 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1325 (Ch.).
Trewker a1585 Polwart Flyt. 18 (T).
Thy tratling, trewcour, I sall tame 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 135.
Hierome Gilbertsoun is tryit to haife repruifeit Jonat Hunter of hir honestie, calling hir ane trewkar(d) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4402 (B).
Truccour 1683 Fountainhall Decis. I 254.
Bailie Fairholm had contumaciously and ungentilely called his wife a lurdain and trucker(e) 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 335.
If the fisches suld escaip and go up the wateris then troucers [pr. troncers] and other deboscheit people suld tak thame(f) a1585 Polwart Flyt. 225 (H).
Trooker(g) 1584 Melvill 176.
Deboushit persones … mean holiglasses, comoun trickers
b. attrib. or as adj. Dishonest; resulting from or inspired by dishonesty.1596 Dalr. II 58/16.
At this tyme mony trukour tragidies [L. omnem invidiæ causam] in the cuntrie stiret vp at his command 1650 Ross Pastoral Work 172.
Reporting that he did sclandour him in calling him a trewker lowne
