Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Fore-stair, Foir-stair, n. Also: forestare, forstair. [Stair n.] A stair on the front of a house.(a) 1508 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 118.
That na furrouris … steip thair skynis in forehous, nor hing thame in forestaris 1511–2 Reg. Privy S. I. 359/2.
To big … ane penteis under the greissis of his fore stare 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 191.
All nychtbouris having thair duelling vpoun fore stairis on the hie stretis 1663 Lamont Diary 164.
The Lord Kingston cryed outt of a fore-stare(b) 1540 Reg. Privy S. II. 515.
To … haif foirstairis … for entre and eismentis to the said foirland and tenement 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 470.
For v hundreth stair nails for cleithing of the foir stair 1580 Prot. Bk. J. Scott. 88.
Theise twa housis ennow and outtow with the loft on the foir stair 1630 Bamff Chart. 223.
In the foirstair standing ane meikle kist 1649 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 99.
Ane tenement of land … [with] the foirstair thairoff pulled all downe 1678 Douglas Bequest (Reg. H.) II. 15 Mar.
That litle merchand schop … lying … beneth the foir timber staire(c) 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 174.
The timber forstair of William Gordone … his land 1661–2 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 214.
For helping the forstairs, dressing off the loft sylering and windowes 1703 Foulis Acc. Bk. 323.
To … my seeing the parliament ryde out of the forstair