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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.

Four, Fowr, num. Also: foure, fowre; fower, -ir, -yr; fouer, -ir, -yr; foir, fore. [ME. four(e, fowr(e, fower, fouwer, OE. féower.]

1. Four. a. In attributive use.(a) a 1350 Facs. Nat. MSS. ii. 14.
Four and tuentiand fat a1400 Leg. S. v. 4.
Foure prewilege hym gewyn wes c1420 Wynt. iv. 1904.
A barne … That had … foure handys and foure fete Foure eyne and foure eyrys c1420 Ratis R. 272.
The four vertuous principall c1475 Wall. iv. 310.
At the Blakfurd, … A squier come, and with him bernys four 1535 Stewart 61227.
Of Scotland syne tha four partis tha send Into four airtis 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 299.
That it remane … for the space of four dayis(b) a1400 Leg. S. xiii. 47.
Ȝet the fowre … Ar payntit with facis fowre c1420 Wynt. i. 641.
In Ynde are landys fourty and fowre 1445 Peebles B. Rec. ii.
He sal pay fowr penys 1496 Lennox Mun. 160.
Fowr merkis worth land of auld exstent 1550 Rec. Earld. Orkney 242.
Tua sait buirdis maid of fowr buirdis of rawchter 1585 James VI Ess. 76.
A metal fowre parts gold and fift part siluer 1615 Highland P. III. 180.
Sum fowre myll from the castell 1675 Wemyss Corr. 141.
Fowre [guns] caring twa pwnd ball, and three caringe fowre pwnd ball(c) 1470 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.).
A thowsande fowyr hundrytht ande sewenti ȝere 1530 Lindores Chart. 32.
Fower syed skapulars & twa schort Ib.
Fowir syed gownis 1557 Inverness B. Rec. I. 5.
Fowyr pundis moné in pencion … for techyn of the scull 1643 Edinb. Test. LX. 233.
Fower silver baird brushes Ib. 234 b.
Fower scoir auchtene baird brushes 1668 Melrose R. Rec. ii. 200.
Andrew Fischer … did cast furth our fower dasks(d) 1554 Prestwick B. Rec. 62.
Hauand fouyr dowyrk of petis 1563–4 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 138.
Fouer feddir beddis 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 63.
The cunsall ordanis the fouir balleis to deill the toun in fouir c 1586 Maxwell Mem. II. 159.
Melvein lyis within fauir myil of Edinburch(e) 1504 Maxwell Mem. 224.
The sowme off foir skor of markis 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 85.
At foir houris eftir noine 1549 Ib. 315.
Thay twk … foir or fyf Bretonis 1692 Annandale Corr. 315.
I have nott been foir nights from this place since I parted with you

b. Used absolutely, esp. of persons. 1375 Barb. vi. 657.
Ȝe … slew four or I slew ane Ib. xiv. 87.
Thar fais, that ay fowr for ane war 1488–92 Treas. Acc. I. 84.
A frete of the Queenis oure set with grete perle sett in fouris and fouris c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlix. 19.
The fell strong tratour, … Mair falsett had nor vdir fowyr 1535 Stewart 26160.
Syne four for four togidder than tha fuir 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 85.
At fowr efter nwne a1568 Scott xxxiv. 64.
Ȝe can tak no rest Quhill thay kast vp all four 1649 Lamont Diary 2.
The Earle of Seaforde, … was removed from his office, and other fowre put in his rowme

2. The fourth day. c 1614 Melrose P. 597.
I stayit whill the fowre of December