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.
Ut(t)er, -ir, adv. Also: wter, -yr, uther. [ME and e.m.E. uttere (c1200), vttyr (c1450), OE út(t)or, útter, MLG uter, ON útarr.]
1. Entirely, completely.1456 Hay I 6/32.
And gert thame wend doun wter the waye till hell
2. Utter-fine, of the finest quality or texture: a. Of precious metal. Also ellipt. b. Of birds' down. c. absol. as noun. Finest quality cloth. Also with pl. inflexion.a. 1538 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 473.
The kingis grace sall have fre of eviry stane wecht of utir fyne silver that beis deliverit to me for cunȝeing of the saidis penneis vi scoir pundis 1560 Treas. Acc. XI 23.
Deliverit to Maister Johnne Spens of Condie, the proffite of viij li. wecht of uterfyne silver cunȝeit in Lyonis 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 264.
According the rait of xxx s. the unce of utter fyne silver 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 191/2.
Sall pay for ilk thousand stane wecht of mettit leid twentie fyve unce of utter fyne silver allanerlie 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 284.
The unce of uther fyne gold to be bocht for xxi pundis money 1641 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I xxxi.
The vnce of vtter fynne gold 1641 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 115.
Grant and gift … to … James Hope … of the office of General of the Mint … with the free passage of three stone of the purest utter fine silver yearly 1673 Mint Melting Journals 9.
The second parcell of silver of vtter fyne barre 4 st.ellipt. 1641 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I xxx.
The maister … does receave the haill bullion and for the vnce thairof vtter fyne payes to the marchant 53 s. 9 d. c1600 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I lxvi.
We try … the fynnes of our silver ingots … by subtile weights of 12 deniers for vtter fynne, everie deniere being subdivided into 24 graines everie graine into 24 prymes everie pryme into 24 secondsb. ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1884) 64.
This fleich [sc. of the eider duck] … hes na pens in the fedderis … bot utter fyne downesc. 1529 Treas. Acc. V 365.
Ane eln … of uterfyne to be tua pair of hois 1537 Treas. Acc. VI 355.
Threttene elnis uter fyne to be four fute-mantillis and four harnessingis to the Franche ladyis saddillis 1537 Treas. Acc. VI 351.
Ten elnis uter fyne to be ane goun to ane Franche preist 1537 Treas. Acc. VI 354.
Auchtene elne uter fyne to be four Franche ladyis dule gounis 1549–50 Treas. Acc. IX 371.
To be schankis to thir hois, thre quarteris uter fyne, the elne xxx s. 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 309.
Of the quhilkis gudis … sevintene cairsayis and fyve stekis of uttir fyne wer recovritpl. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 145.
Deliverit to him x elnis ane quarter uteris fyne
3. Immediately; directly.1493 Dunferm. B. Rec. in Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 178.
Thir said personis iugis sall conwene … in Sant Margretis kirk wtyr befor the altar of Sant Margret sytuat within the said kirk
