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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.

Ventar, Vendar, n.¹ Also: venter, -air, wentar, vendir, vyndour, vinter. [e.m.E. vendor (1594), vender (1596), venter (1620), F. vendeur, AF vendor.] a. A seller of goods. b. specif. A seller of (wine, etc.); one who broaches (a cask, etc. of wine, etc.) for the purpose of selling it. Cf. Vent v.¹ b. Also comb.a. 1482 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 45.
All the toun vyndouris of gudis ventit or temyt in the rade havin or toun of Leith 1659 Dumfries Council Min. MS 2 May.
Severall … who are vendirs of herringsb. 1548 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 134.
That all taverneris and vtheris ventares of wyne within this burgh sell thair wynes … for xij d. the pynt, vnder the payne of escheitt of the pvncheoun that is rynnand 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III 111.
Ventaris of wyne quhilkis payit of euerye puntioun wyne ane choppoun to Sanct Anthonis alter 1566 Treas. Acc. XII 14.
To summond Johnne Pacoke [etc.] … and uthiris contenit in precept, selleris and venteris of wine, for contravening the pices thairof 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 381.
That all ventares of wyne, topsters and browsters haif thair pynts, quarts and choppins … merket … with the touns merk hard be the lip 1597 Perth Guildry 553.
Ane pynt of vynis … of ilk twn … to be pait be the ventaris of the vyne 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 200.
[Losses sustained by the] ventaris of wyne … [by the] continuall lekage thairof and fraud and desait of thair servandis having the chairg of the selling and rynning of thair wynis 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. MS 91b.
The haile browstaris and wentaris of ale … hes … sauld thair ele darrer nor auchteine penneis the pynt 1622 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 136.
Sum nytbors venters of oistlarie & wines refuss to sell the saim to all personis [etc.](b) 1596 Irons Leith I App. 565.
Be ressoun of the eis and adwantage that the saidis vendaris hes in selling thair wynis(c) 1606 Aberd. B. Rec. II 286.
It sall not be lesum to onie hostilar, tavernar, or vinter of wyne, aill, or beir, to sell or vent onie wyne, aill, or beir, fra ten houris at nicht furthcomb. 1579–80 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 155.
The saidis wemen tavernaris, wyne ventairis, or topstairis of wyne