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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.

Archar, Archer, n. Also: archear, -eir, -ier, airchour. [ME. archer (c 1300), AF. archer, OF. archier.]

1. An archer or bowman.(a) 1375 Barb. ix. 151.
Thair archaris furth to thame thai send 1424 Acts II. 6/1.
That all men busk thame to be archaris fra thai be xij ȝere of eilde c1420 Wynt. ii. 37.
Ane archare in a kyrnale stude c1475 Wall. iv. 543.
Twenty he had that nobill archaris war, Agayne sewyn scoyr of Inglis bowmen sar c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 137.
Lufis quene … bad hir archearis kene Go me arrest 1522 Treas. Acc. V. 204.
To ane archear to by him ane hors 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 39.
The king … send … ij c. archearis of the gaird(b) c1420 Wynt. iv. 993.
All his futmen and archerys, That lypnyd ware to thaire lederys Ib. viii. 6229.
All yhone archerys skayle sall I c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 185.
Scho … Askit hir choise of archeris in refute 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 13.
The cheritabil archer Appollo c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1115.
The Archeris … of braid arrowis let fle ane flicht a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 70.
O scorne of luifaris, Cupid, blind archeir 1596 Dalr. II. 21/11.
Carle king … institute ane ordour of a hundir Scotis archiers(c) a1578 Pitsc. I. 340/27.
The rest of airchouris schott far and wight

2. Archer hole, a shot-hole; archer(is) shot, a bowshot; archer window, a loophole; archeris wine (see quot. 1581). ?1438 Alex. i. 1111.
He raid … ane archear schot all out and mare Ib. ii. 473.
The craggis … had ane archearis schot on hicht 1530 M. Works Acc. I. 36.
Ane craw to the archar windo in the gret chalmer Ib. 40.
Ane wprycht … to ane archar windo 1639 Thanes of Cawdor 284.
Archer hollis under the said windockis 1581 Reg. Privy C. III. 428.
Certane small custumes, callit of auld the Parliament fee or archearis wyne, for all victuallis and merchandice enterend within his Hienes burgh quhair the court of Parliament hes been haldin for the tyme