Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Catour, Cater, n. Also: cait-, caytour; catoure, cattour, katour, kater. [ME. catour (c 1400), kator, e.m.E. cater, reduced from acatour.] A household officer acting as buyer of provisions (esp. for the king); a furnisher of provisions, a purveyor.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 645.
For thai couth chewis chikinnis, and purches pultre, … as kyngis caytouris [B. katouris] 1502 Acta Conc. MS. XI. 152.
Alexander Gryme, caytour til our souerane lord 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 447.
To the said Comptrollar to the furnessing of the hous, quhilk wes deliverit in his name to Robert Moncur, caytour 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 436.
Iames Aikman to be caitour and furnesar to thame(b) c1475 Wall. ii. 101.
Catour sen syne he was, but weyr 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 531.
Gude warkis, Clene leuing, Bene outstewartis and catouris to ȝone king 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 337.
To Robert Buttone, katour, for ane selcht and ane pellok, and salt to thaim 1528 Acta Conc. MS. XXXVIII. 134.
Browstaris, baxtaris, flescharis, catouris 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 126.
Schir Johnne M^cCaw, catour, and Johnne M^cCaw, pultreman 1544 Ib. VIII. 248.
Jhonne Maccall, his gracis maister catour 1548 Ib. IX. 202.
To my lorde governoures catoure callit Gilcryst, to the furnesing of my lordes hous 1563 Liber Ins. Missarum 92.
With catour and officiar corne, syluer and stray 1589 Exch. R. XXII. 33.
Johne Winyettis, catour, James Galbraith, avenariman, James Bennet, clerk of the stable 1610 Brechin Test. III. 72 b.
Patrik Williamsoun catour in Glenyllay 1628 Reg. Great S. 457/1.
Solvendo etiam lie catour et officiaris granum, stramina et argentum consueta(c) 1598 Crim. Trials II. i. 34.
Johnne Wynȝettis, sumtyme kater to his Maiestie 1603 Philotus xxi.
Ȝour cater he may cair for syne Sum delicate agane ȝe dyne 1622-6 Bisset I. 1/2.
His ffather was cater to Queene Marye a1651 Calderwood VI. 73.
Andrew Ruthven and George Dewar, the erle's cater, nather had nor drew weapouns