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: 1577-1700+
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Voter, n. Also: wottar, voyter, woitar, -er. [17th c. Eng. voter (a1660), one who is bound by an oath, 18th c. Eng. (1767), one who has a right to a vote.] One who has a right to express an opinion or offer a choice or decision by voting; one who votes in this fashion. Also no voter, one who abstains.(1) a1578 Pitsc. I 267/9.
The lordis … chargit Lord Patrick Lyndsay of the Byris to be chancelar and first wottar in the consall 1603 Moysie 2.
The counsell sat and the said Johne lord Glames wes ordeanit … [to demand] at evrie great man theareat his woit tuitching the depriuatioun of the said erle of Mortoun … and sua he wes depryued be the mouthes of the moist pairt of the woiteris 1603 Moysie 9.
Woitar 1641 Acts V 667/2.
That it be cairfullie looked vnto that the paipperis be equall in number with the voyteris present a1650 Row 191.
The mater … being referred to voyceing, it is caried affirmativlie … As to the number of voters, that there should be fifty-one(2) 1701 D. Hume Diary Parl. Scot. 78.
So by vote it was carried (Halcraig and I being no voters,) to send a macer … to require them to attend the council
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"Voter n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/voter>
