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.
Bak-stair, Bak-stare, n. Also: bake stair, baxstare, -ster. [Bak a. Also in e.m.E. back stayres (1627), backstairs.] Stairs at the back of a house. 1512 Reg. Privy S. I. 359/2.
Licence … to haif staris towart the Hie Strete and calsay, with bak staris and turngres in the Frere Wynd 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 526.
Lath burd to the turnepyke and bakstair 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 215.
[He] deponis that Patrik Thomsone said to William Cheisholme on his baxstare [etc.] 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II. 280.
For mending of ane bak stair of the abatis chalmer a1568 Nine Ord. Knavis 46 (Bann. MS. 158 a).
I was on the baxster spoungeand ȝour goun 1690 Leven & Melv. P. 485.
Brought him up the bake stairs to the eating rome
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"Bak-stair n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Jan 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bak_stair>
