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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.

Colȝear, Coilȝear, Coalyar, n. Also: colȝar (-ȝard), -ȝair, -ȝiar, -ȝeo(u)r, -ȝer, -ȝeir; collȝar, -ȝer, -iar; coleȝar; coilȝer; coalȝiar, -y(i)er, coalliar, -ier. [e.m.E. colliar, colyar, ME. coliare, variant of coliere, colȝere, etc. (14th c.), f. cole Cole n.]

1. a. A charcoal-burner. b. A digger of coals; a coal-miner. c. One in charge of coals.(a) c 1475 Asl. MS. I. xv.
The buke of Ralf Colȝear 1498 Treas. Acc. I. 389.
In Dunbertane, to Dauisoune colȝar, to mak werklumys Ib. 390.
To the colȝear in Dunbertane, quhen he past to the see 1503 Lanark B. Rec. 13.
To the colȝair at socht the collhewcht 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 43.
The cadgyar … Calland the colȝar a knafe 1531 Reg. Privy S. II. 105/1.
Ane lettre maid to Johnne Lausoun makand him maister colȝeour to our soverane lord 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 332.
Iohnne Lawsoun, ischer of the hall dur and colȝear 1543–4 Ib. VIII. 247.
Jhonn Lausoun, maister colȝeour c1552 Lynd. Mon. 550.
To colȝearis, cairtaris, and to cukis, … my ryme sall be diractit 1600-1610 Melvill 480.
The apollog of Æsope anent the colȝiar and the wakar 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix. 35.
[Æsop] whose colȝer and fuller … could not lodge together. For the colȝear [etc.] 1652 Edinb. Test. LXVI. 86.
Thomas Watt, colȝear 1675 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 365.
Which coall is now drowned with water by the neglect of the colȝiars and servants 1694 Ayr & W. Coll. IV. 188.
Iames Millar, colliar(b) 1541 Treas. Acc. VII. 478.
Iohne Douchell … kepar of the siluer veschell and coleȝare Ib. 479. 1596 Glasgow Burgesses 23.
Ronald, John, coleȝar(c) 1532 Soc. Ant. II. 403.
Iohn Lawta wes choissyn to oversee the coilȝers for viii dayis for vi s. 1547 Stirling B. Rec. I. 46.
The said David, … maister … coilyear to the said Quenis grace 1572 Sat. P. xxxii. 25.
We coilȝearis, cadgearis, and carteris, in ane rout a1500 Rauf C. 321.
The coilȝear … Went to the charcoill in hy To mak his chauffray reddy 1637 Edinb. Test. LVIII. 242.
Williame Wilsone, coilȝeor(d) 1644 Acts VI. 122/2.
To conveene the saids coal-masters, coal-grieves, and coalyars 1654 Conv. Burghs III. 370.
Coall maisteris, … coall greives, and coalliaris 1680 Wemyss Chart. 322.
Item, to coalȝiars and coalcallers at Weymes 1686 Irvine Mun. II. 307.
To the coalyieris ffyve pyntis of aill

d. Attrib. with raw, schip. 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 1.
The qwhilk land liis in the Collyar raw one the west side c1650 Spalding I. 199.
Thair cam to the road of Abirdein ane colȝear schip

2. A collier vessel. c1650 Spalding I. 201.
Seing the colȝear with ane pynnage, and tuo vther barkis cum to the road