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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.

Burse, Burs, n. Also: burce. [e.m.E. burse (16th c.), F. bourse, L. bursa.]

1. A purse. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 371.
Send to my lord Dene of Glasgow … for the burse, xlv li. 1538 Ib. VII. 18.
Gevin to Oliver Sincler for the Kingis burce 1593 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 89.
[To inquire] giff the commoun burs of the toun be weill and faythfullie kepit 1680 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.) Tours 7 b.
I put in the common burse for defraying our expenss … the soume of [£]33 …

2. A sum or endowment for the support of a student or scholar (or the payment of a teacher); a bursary. 1579 Acts III. 179/2.
Be diligent examinatioun of the rectour, deanis of facultie, and the masteris of the college, quhair the burs happynnis to vaik, the puirest to be preferrit 1600-1610 Melvill 190.
Giff they war … maid bursses in the scholles of philosophie and theologie, euerie noble man might haiff a seminarie [etc.] 1606 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 157.
The rentale of the College leuing yeirlie … The first Maisters burse 1610 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 365.
To have compeirit in the said college to be tryit … if they wer apt for any of the saidis bursis 1622 Elgin Rec. II. 170.
Mr Alexander Smart his sone quha hes the benefeit of ane burs this yeer 1649 Inverness Presb. 164.
Hutchone Monro, wes elected … to the Presbyteries bursse 1659 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 433.
That the bursar report the Questores resayt … to the Principal … before he receive a warrand for peyment of his burse 1677 Spotsw. Hist. App. 26.
A probleme is affixed on the colledgegates, inviting young scholars to come and dispute for a burse. … So many burses are void at every commencementattrib. 1674 Inverness Presb. 48.
The burs money due to the bursar of divinity

3. A bourse or exchange. 1593 Acts IV. 30/2.
In all the guid townis of France and Flanderis quhair burses ar erected 1603 Reg. Great S. 514/1.
Cum omnibus libertatibus que … ad mercimonii exercitium, mercatorum et gilde curias et bursas, lie bursis, spectaverunt