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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Aislar, Aistlar, n. Also: aisleyr, aislaer, aisler, aisclar; aistlear. [OF. aiseler, aisselier (L. axillāris), whence also ME. ascheler (c 1370), asheler, e.m.E. ashler. See also Aslar, Eslar.]

1. Square hewn stone for building (or paving) purposes; a block of this.(a) 1516 Rentale Dunkeld. 298.
[Masons crossing to the quarry for] lie aisleyr dressing 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. 350.
For the poynting of the haill ilering of the aislars of the haill kirk 1591 Edinb. Dean of Guild Acc. MS. 459.
To ane layer … at the well in rouche wark under the aisleris 1603 Edinb. B. Rec. 320.
To big up the clouse twa or thre aisler hicht(b) 1529 M. Works Acc. I. 6.
Enterit fra Culrois ane crair with v xx aistlaris Ib. 14 b.
l^c peis fre tailȝe aistlaris 1532 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 145.
With gunhollis and duiris of aistlar 1623 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 282.
The haill worche of the buttressis to be mendit, the aistlearis dichtit … and poyntit

b. Aislar stane, in the same sense. 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 395.
Ane substantious brig of fyn aisclar stane and lym 1551 Hamilton Cat. 28.
As … a Mason can nocht hew ane evin aislair staine without directioun of his rewill 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. 350.
For beirring of the aislar Stanis of the Walkar's alter to the maisoun luge 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. MS. 459.
To thre massouns dressing aisler stanes

2. Aislar wark (werk, work), masonry formed of square-hewn stones. Similarly aislar wall. 1542 Soc. Ant. III. 162.
The north vall … [of] aislar werk 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 241.
The … capitan of Edinburgh castil causit big ane new port … of aisler wark 1573 Reg. Privy C. MS. XLII. 3 b.
The small remanent of aislar work is brocht sindrie and schaikin lows 1623 Rec. Marischal Coll. I. 189.
That they sall big the said entrie … with aisler wark 1637 Black Bk. Taymouth 79.
Ane great pendit vtter ȝett of prettie weill hewin and engravit aislar work 1668 Lauder Jrnl. 182.
They are building a tolbuith all of aislaer work