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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.

Baxter, Baxtare, n. Also: baxtere, baxster, -ar(e; bak-, back-, bacster; bakester, -ister; baxister. [e.m.E. baxter, backster, ME. baxter, baxstere, bakestre, etc., OE. bæcestre fem. of bæcere Baker. Cf. MDu. bacster.] A baker.(a) 1324 Irvine Mun. I. 123.
Thomas dictus Baxter burgensis de Irwyn 1400 Misc. Spald. C. V. 15.
Balliui inhibuerunt … Willelmum Boyl baxter ab officio suo pistoris per annum 14.. Acts I. 355/2.
Baxteris, brewsterys, and fleschewarys, the quhilkis sal len to thar nychtburis flesch, bred, and ail 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 10.
The baxsteiris sal fynd the menstralis 1443 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 7.
It is statute … that na baxter baik na mayne breid to sell … saiffing allenarly at Witsounday [etc.] 1510 Ib. 129.
The maisteris of the baxteris craft within this burgh 1527 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 115.
He chargit the baxteris, flescharis and brostaris to furneis and decoir the said tovn 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII. 475.
George Gibsone, maister baxster 1564–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 481.
To David Kynloch, baxster, to the men of weir, j^c li. 1565–6 Ib. II. 238.
To William Fiddes, bakister a1578 Pitsc. II. 142/15.
The new preaching and doctrin of soutteris, tailȝeouris, skynneris, baksteris or ony vther 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 12.
Ane baxters sone, ane beggar borne a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxviii. 17.
Our baxisteris of breid hes na seil [= sale] 1586 Ayr Council Bk. 10 Oct.
That na bakister baik ony wastellis to sell 1614 Elgin Rec. II. 140.
To summond the baksters again Tuysday nixt for raising the steanes of the graves to build ther oynes 1644–5 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 509.
Debursit to the baxsteris for beiscat furneischit … to the foirsaid schip 1665 Lauder Journal 115.
A baxter being at the pulpit fit, started up and demanded why [etc.] 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 365.
A pair of baxters creills(b) 1379 Exch. R. II. 596.
Compotum Duncani Baxstare 14.. Acts I. 329/2.
Baxtaris, breustaris, fleschewaris Ib. 333/2.
Off the chalance of baxtaris 1433 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 390.
It is ordanit that na baxtar brek the pais that is giffin or salbe giffin hym be the baillies 1442 Ib. 9.
At the baxtares baake na faiges 1499 Halyb. 245.
Cornell the bakstar of the Feir 1503 Dunferm. B. Rec. 136.
John Qwytsone … baxstar ves amerciat for mynising of the pas of brede 1526 Stirling B. Rec. I. 27.
Quheit was fundit saild samekle as the bakstaris … couft in Leicht at this last waiaigh 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 166.
The counsale … ordanis that the outlandis baxstaris frequentand to this merkit haue thair breid weill bakin and dryit 1554 Ib. 205.
Quhair it happinnis twa … baxtaris … to be togidder dwelland

b. Attrib. with aver, boy, land, man, son. 1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. 114.
Item, the baxter land in the Nevrav 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 304.
With taill and mayn of a baxter aver 1618 M. Works Acc. XV. ii. 20 b.
To the baxtere man that furnesit bran to the hors to drink 1654 Lamont Diary 92.
Mr Andro Heathricke, a backster sonne in Cuper 1656 Baillie III. 343.
Forsyth, lately a baxter boy

c. Baxter craft or trade, the trade of baking, or those engaged in it. 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 50.
Thay ordane he be spanyt the occupatioun of the baxter craft for all the dayis of his lyf 1548 St. A. Baxter Bks. 3.
Jamis Browne, Decane of the baxter craft 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 228.
Thomas Boyis vesitour of the baxter craft within this burgh 1589 Ib. V. 12.
The friemen and brether of the baxter craft 1635 St. A. Baxter Bks. 96.
The haill remanent brethrein of the said baxter craft of St. Androis 1649 Ib. 120.
William Levingstone, being decan, and remanent members of the baxter traid 1687 Ib. 145.
The said brethrin of the baxter traid being convenet