A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wirkar, Wyrkar(e, n. Also: wirker, virker, warkkar, werkar, workare, -er. [ME and e.m.E. wirkere (Rolle), worcher (Chaucer), werkere (Wyclif), worker (c1440).] a. Author, doer (of an action or to a purpose). b. specif.Of God as creator. c. transf.With a thing as subject. d. One who does a job of work, a craftsman, labourer; one who works (in particular circumstances).a. c1475 Wall. iii 344.
Causer of wer, wyrkar of wykitnes 1513 Doug. Comm. i v 28.
Thai war solistaris and warkkaris to rendyr Helen and to procur paice 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 109 (Sm.).
Quhay ar wirkaris of this weir … Bot incompetabill clergy 1513 Doug. xii iii 103.
I sall the warrand, and the wyrkar [L. auctor] be To mak thé baldly vndertak 1560 Acts II 529/2.
Murtheraris oppressouris … and all wirkaris of iniquitie 1562-3 Winȝet II 65/33.
Thir kynd of fols prophetis, says he, ar dissaitful werkaris 1568 Buch. Indict. 43.
Ane innocent man haid sufferit gif God haid nocht mowit the virker of the thing to manifest hym self 1604-31 Craig ii 84.
That proud vsurper worker of my noyesb. 1490 Irland Mir. I 116/4.
Hevinly fader, wyrkare and dressare of all creature and nature c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 62/60.
Nocht to that behufe Put God sic bewty in a ladeis face That [etc.] … Bot He, the wirker, that put in hir sic grace [etc.] a1538 Abell 113b.
The law of nature … is inpressit in euirilk natur be the he wirkar 1567 G. Ball. 77.
The haly Gaist mot blissit be, Wirkar of this Natiuitiec. 1604 James VI Tobacco 93/18.
The tobacco … was the worker of that miracled. 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I 31.
Certane statutis [of the masons and wrights] … proffitable baith for the wirkaris and to all biggaris 1516 Treas. Acc. V 82.
To pas with ane letter of inhibitioun to the werkaris in the goldin mynd 1563 Davidson Answer 212.
I wranguslie attribute to the instrumentis that thing quhilk appertenis to the lyvelie workare 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 126.
Hew Houssoun, Alexander Houssoun, wirkeris on the Sonday 1622 Edinb. Marr. 124.
Pasment worker 1682 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 29 Sept.
That each of the said executors and my said wife put in workers in to the ground according to the proportiones they have … of the cropt
