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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.

Victual(l)ar, Vit(t)al(l)ar, n. Also: victual(l)er, -uellar, -er, -walleir, -ular, wictueller, vitteller, -elour, wittaler, -our, -uellar, wyttolar(e. [ME and e.m.E. vitailler (1377), viteler (Wyclif), vitaler (1421), vitteller (1467), victailer (a1548), victualler (1568), OF vitaill(i)er, -our, -eur, vit-, victuailleur.] One who supplies victual, esp. to an army, ship, etc. b. A ship used to carry supplies for an army, etc.(a) 1375 Barb. xiv 407.
Thai raid to mete the wittaleris [C. vittelleris] That with thar wittaill … Come haldand to thar ost the way 1375 Barb. xiv 429.
Wittalouris [C. vittelouris] 1456 Hay I 116/8.
Merchandis and vitalaris of the ost(b) 1533 Boece 243b.
In myddis this power, the kingis, and maist valeȝeand men … Eftir quham come the victualaris and cariage 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. 72.
David Duf victuallar 1560 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 173.
The said Johnne was … victuellar of … part of the schip 1622-6 Bisset II 229/33.
Merchandis and victularis of schipis sall nocht be haldin for the prysis … that sall be takin be there men of wear upoun the seæ 1641 Acts V 495/1.
All barkes creires and otheres weschelles … for Northland victuellers shall bee free of all duetie 1669 Peebles B. Rec. II 81.
All commoun victualleris … to pay the ladill to the customer, whether they sell victuall in the mercate or in thair awne houssis, for all they sell 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 1 April.
The victwalleiris keipis vp thair meill and will not bring the samyn to the mercat place in expectatioune of dearth to the great prejudice of the inhabitants and leidges both in burgh and landwart 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 404.
Yow are … impowred to suffer no marcattenters, victuallers or other persones … to sell any kynd of provissiones of meatt or drink in the army but at such rates [etc.]b. 1570 Leslie 213.
Thair remanit not in Scotlande bot certane gallayis and a few uder shippes in maner of victualers(b) 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 6.
[There are five Ynglish ships] wyttolares [taken and brought into Leith on Good Friday] 1558-66 Knox I 216.
Besydis the galayis, being twenty twa then in nomber, thei had threscoir great schippis, besydis vittallaris 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 297.
I haue dismissed Captane Merick and the wittuellar [Melrose P. 248, wictueller] quharin the ordinance war, and hes stayed Captane Wood with the ordinance