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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.

Firewerk, Fyrewerk, -wark, n. Also: fyirwerk, fyir-, fyrwark, fyre-, fyir-, firework. [e.m.E. fire work (1560).]

1. Fittings for guns. Ingine of firewerk, firework ingine, a firearm. 1562–3 Treas. Acc. XI. 247.
xvi stane … wecht of Danskin irne to mak skrowis and uthir fire werk to j^cli culveringis 1567 Acts III. 29/2.
That na maner of person … vse ony culveringis, daggis, pistolettis, or ony vther sik ingynes of fyre wark 1585 Rep. Sir Rob. Menzies MSS. 693.
To use hagbuttis, pistolettis, and all vther ingynis of fyir werk a1605 Birrel Diary 13.
A strait proclamatione, discharging the vearing of guns … , or aney sicklyke fyerwork ingyne

2. sing. and pl. Fire-arms. Also sing. A fire-arm. 1573 Digest Justiciary Proc. I. 43.
The weiring, beiring, or schutting with culveringis daggis and fyre warkis is not left and forborne 1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 681.
The bearing … and schuting with culveringis, daggis, and fyre werk is not left of 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 242.
That na maner of persounis … beir pistulis hakbutis or ony vther fyre wark a1651 Calderwood V. 160.
A proclamatioun … that none weare anie fireworkes, hacquebutts, or dags 1674 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 270.
Notwithstanding [that] … wearing of guns, pistols, halberts [sic], and other fire works, … are crimes of a high nature 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxxii. § I.
Bearing of hagbuts, pistols, and other fire-works, were punished of old by amputation of the right hand

3. a. A fire-ball or similar contrivance. 1600 Crim. Trials II. 245.
The toune raise in armes, with schutting af muskettis, casting of fyir-workis and baill-fyirs set furthe

b. Fireworks as a display. 1617 M. Works Acc. XV. 71.
To the Earle of Abircornes tabernour & quhisler for attending the youthes at the Moreis dance the nycht of the fyrwarkis c1650 Spalding II. 61.
He receaved ane welcum of fyne fire wark

4. Metal work or works. 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 87.
James Barroun to content and pay to Johne Knox … the sowme of xx. li. for irne and fyre werk furnesit and maid to his hous 1607 Reg. Great S. 671/2.
Cum libertate … instrumenta vel opera ignea (fyre-workis) edificandi