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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Currour, n. Also: currowr, -oure, -ur(e, -or; curour. [ME. currour(e, curour (Wyclif), OF. coreor.]

1. A watcher or ranger of a forest. Also attrib. with croft, stede. 1294 Rotuli Sc. II. 123/2.]
[Willelmum Currour mercatorem de Scotia 1423 (1426) Reg. Great S. 11/2.
Twa forestar stedis wythin Schutynlewarde, lyand betwix the masterstede and the currourstede off the ward off the Yharow 1450 Exch. R. V. 385.
[Per solucionem factam Willelmo Curour, forster, de mandato regis 1456 Ib. VI. 217.]
De xxx d. de Forestercrofft, … et de iij s. iiij d. de Currourcrofft 1473 Peebles B. Rec. 20.
Oure balyeis, currouris, officiaris, and ministeris of oure saide forest of Ettrik 1486 Exch. R. IX. 614.
Forestaris and currouris of our said forest to mak be callit 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 285/1.
Dischargeing his ballies, commissaris of his forest courtis, or currouris of his said forest [of Ettrick] … of the takyn of ony entreis in the said steding 1510 Ib. 311/2.
Dischargeing the bailȝeis of the forest, … currowris of the said forest … of the taking or rasing of ony unlawis [etc.]

2. A messenger sent in haste, esp. with letters; a courier. (Cf. Curriour.) c1475 Wall. ix. 766.
Schyr Jhon Sewart … Send currowris sone out throw the land to pas, And gaderyt men Ib. 809.
My selff can swym, … But currours oys, that gaynis nocht for me 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 45.
Gevin to Richard Blith, currour, … passande with lettres to diuers personis on the Bordouris 1489 Ib. 125.
To Schaw the currur to pas on the suthsyd the watter 1490 Lanark B. Rec. 7.
To the currour that brocht the precep of the Parliament, ij s. a1500 Bk. Chess 56.
The viii [pawn is] a commoun currour of the tovne Ib. 2000.
Currouris that beris letteris to & fro, Thai suld nocht tarye be the waye thai go 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 193.
Payit to Maister Iohne Murray he gaif to currouris that had furth the preceptis of the chekker 1517 Acta Conc. MS. XXX. 171.
That ane currour pas with ane salf conduct to the commissionaris … to cum souirely to the said meting 1533 Boece xi. xxi. 451 b.
Quhat the writaris, currouris, pursevantis, messageris, … to thare feis suld craif 1535 Treas. Acc. VI. 263.
To my lord abbot of Kynlos quhilk he gaif to the Inglis currour