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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.

Bever, Bevar, Baver, n.¹ Also: beuer, bevir, bevuer, beaver; bavir, bauer, bawer, baiver. [ME. bever(e, OE. befor, beofor.]

1. A beaver. 14.. Acts I. 303/2.
Of a tymmyr of skynnis of toddis, quhytredys, … beueris, sable, firrettis or swylk vthyr 1428 Exch. R. IV. 438.]
[Pro centum … bestiis de bevir a1500 Henr. Orph. 161.
My bed sall be with bever, broke, & baire Id. Fab. 262/111 (B).
The bauer, bakon, and the batterand brok 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxiii.
Amang thame. ar mony martrikis, bevers, quhitredis, and toddis

2. Beaver fur. 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 58.
The burges … in his boith … Byand bessely … buge, bevir and byce 1531 Bell. Boece I. 69.
Marchandis … come … to seik riche furringis; as martrikis, bevaris, and siclik skinnis 1603 Montgomery Mem. 249.
For ane hat of beyuer 1612 Bk. Rates 314.
Hats of bever, woll, or hair the hatt. xvi li.

b. Attrib., esp. bever hat. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 386 (C).
In ane mantill and ane bawer hat 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 146.
For a bevir hat to the King before Payce 1540 Ib. VII. 324.
For ane tanny baver hat to the Kingis grace c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 90.
Ane bever hat upon his haid vas sett c 1614 Laing MSS. I. 137.
Ane gray baiver hait withe ane imbrowderit string 1620 Edinb. Test. L. 352 b.
Ane auld fascheonat bevar hat 1638 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 194/2.
Ane auld silk bavir hatt out of fassun 1684 New Mills Manuf. 81.
The baver hate, hate band and fringe gloves