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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dempstar(e, Dempster, n. [Northern ME. (rare) dempster, a judge (14th c.), var. of demster Demstar(e.] ‘The officer of a court who pronounced doom or sentence definitively as directed by the clerk or judge’ (J).(a) 1388 Bamff Chart. 21.]
[Androw Dempstar 1410 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 31.
The dempstar of the court … gaf dome in this forme, sayand, This grit court wardis and I gif for dome [etc.] 14.. Acts I. 343/2.
The maner of the justice ayr. Fyrst call the soytour, … than tak the dempstare and gare him be suorne 1435 Exch. R. IV. 625.]
[Johanne Dempstare 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 114.
Iohn Wilson, dempstar, wardit Wil Geddes … for faut of perans … to the chalang of Rob Percle 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. 5.
I … sais to thé Adam Man, dempstar, that the doym that ye has gyffyn is ewyl fals and rottyn in the self 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 302.
To the clerk and dempstare in the court, xij d. 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 256/2.
To mak and deput dempstaris and all uther officiaris … of court neidfull 1510 Reg. Great S. 734/2.
Qui ad voluntatem regis esset adjudicator, viz. le dempstare in dictis curiis 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 267.
The schireffis causit Murdow Hob dempstar for to give dome tharupone 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 367.
Dome of court gevin herupon be the mouth of Alexander Duncansone dempstare 1550 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 151.
Courtis of justiciarie ane or ma to set, … deputis ane or ma vnder him with clerk, seriand, dempstar and all vther officeris … to make 1562 Treas. Acc. XI. 214.
To Duncane Hurrie, dempstare in Abirdene, xxx s. 1596 Highland P. I. 158.
To summond, warne, cheis and caus be suorne clerkis, … dempstaris and all uther officiaris … of court needful(b) 1483 Acts II. 151/2.
It was gevin for dome, be the mouthe of Iohne Dempster, dempster of parliament 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 537/1.
With power to mak deputis, … with clerkis, serjeandis, dempster and all uthir officiaris and membris of courtis 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 154.
That wes gewin for dome be the mouth of Iohne Scheras, dempster of court for the tym 1562 Digest Iusticiary Proc. D. 46.
Duncane Hurrye dempster … for dome gawe that the. said Iohnne Gordoune suld be hangit 1600 Colville Palinode 3.
My conscience … being my actor, assise, iudge, dempster and burreau 1606–7 Misc. Spald. C. V. 81.
To Patrik Leslie, dempster, for careing ane letter to the shireff concerning the captioun of James Gordoun 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 148.
Thay rys … and remittis sentens to the judge and dome to the dempster 1641 Dundee Chart. 54.
To that effect, clerkis, serjandis, and dempsteris … to elect and choyse 1669 Glasgow Chart. II. 174.
To make and create baillies, clerks, officers, dempsters [etc.]