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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.

Gar, v. Also: gare, garr(e, gaur. P.t. and p.p. gart, gairtt; garrit, garid, gard. [Var. of Ger v., with normal change of -er to -ar, becoming common in the 15th cent.]

1. tr. To cause (something) to be done. 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2.
Gyf any of thair bondys trespas in that manere the lordes sal gar it be amendyt 1435 Ayr Burgh Crt. Bk. 19 Dec.
To gar the said John be seruit of the said some c1460 Wisd. Sol. 463.
Al the werkis … that I … mycht study … to gar be done 1519 Buccleuch Mun. II. 134.
Officiaris sik as clerkis, … and dempstaris to maik, cheis, and gare be sworne 1532 Reg. Cupar A. I. 136.
We haue gart our commoun sele to be appendit heirto 1549 Compl. 2/15.
The actis that ȝour prudens garris daly be exsecut a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cv. 4.
All lesingis … Thai put in writt and garris thame be prentit

2. To give instructions, take measures, to (do or make something).(a) 14.. Acts I. 344/2.
Thai salbe chargit to gare put thaim in cedule a1500 Bk. Chess 641.
For his douchter [is] chargit be the quene To gar instruct thaim 1499 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 430.
We sal gar set the stanis on the heid of the hillokis c1500-c1512 Dunb. lix. 23.
Punes him … Or gar deliver him ane babile 1515 Treas. Acc. V. 47.
To gar mak beil fyris and cast gunnys c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1027.
Ryse, and gar mak our denner reddie 1590 St. A. Kirk S. 676.
Sche prayis for Goddis saik to gar baptis the barne 1604-31 Craig v. 33.
In this place a private graue gar make(b) 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 90.
To garr mende the hous of the artilȝere a1500 Seven S. 263.
Schir, garris kepe him quhill the morne 1513 Doug. iv. v. 157.
Eneas … he gan aspy … garrand beild new lugyngis(b) 1410 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 30.
The quhilk borrowis we gart inrolle 1415 Ib. 37.
Til thir our letteris … we haf gart put the grit seil of our office c1460 Wisd. Sol. 461.
Al the werkis … that I had gart mak wnder the sone c1475 Wall. xi. 989.
Wallace … gart warn his eyme the auchtand nycht a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 269.
The battall syne of Spottismuir he gart cause 1558-66 Knox I. 383.
The said Frensche King … gart put his youngar brother … in strait presoun 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 114.
The queen's Majestie being in Dunbar, gart mak ane proclamatioun c1615 Chron. Kings 76.
He gartt aprehend him and justifie him c1650 Spalding I. 344.
The King gart ward bothe these commissioneris(b) 1497 Dunferm. B. Rec. 80.
Rob Gebson … garit call Rob Boswyll [to] answar to the bowrch 1584 Acts III. 306/1.
He layit the wayis for the said maister James and garrit await for him

3. To make or cause (a person or thing) to do something. Const. with simple infin.(a) 1443 Highland P. II. 178.
The said Schir Duncan sall gar the said Charlis gif his lettris of qwytcleme a1500 Seven S. 310.
To gud the tre than couth he bid To gar it bere 1503 Lanark B. Rec. 12.
To gar Rob Flemyn cwm to set up the buttis 1535 Stewart 56691.
Difficill is to gar ane cowart stand 1549 Compl. 163/7.
Al this … suld be an animaduertens to gar ȝou be vigilant 1569 Bann. Mem. 11.
That will gar thair hartis trumbill Ib.
Gar thaim pay euerie ȝeir an guid tribute 1596 Dalr. I. 110/30.
Sal I gar this wound sa gret bleid agane?(b) c1460 Wys Man's Consail 64.
It … fra all gud men garris thaim seuer 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxiii.
The chasing … of thair ky, garring thame cast calfis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 172.
Thy skolderit skin … Garris men dispyt thar flesche 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 8.
He sal geif the interpretation … , garryng thayme all writ 1596 Dalr. II. 213/2.
Nouther horrour or feir of deith wald garr thame tell 1603 Philotus cxxx.
Quhat garris ȝow braid? … quhat haue ȝe sene?(c) 1417 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 38.
That ȝe … gare the foirsaide bischope haff his teind pennye 1461 Liber Plusc. 387.
To slok youre syt, and gare you mak gud cheire c1420 Ratis R. 1211.
To gare vs vnderstand … Quhat is wertew 1535 Stewart 456.
To stanche thift … and wrang gare seis(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 310.
Al the poure men … he gart cum til hyme c1420 Wynt. v. 1223.
This gart Sanct Gregor tak him tyll That seiknes c1475 Wall. v. 148.
Kerle … Wndir the chokkeis the grounden suerd gart glid 1529 Rec. Earld. Orkney 58.
[They] on force gart me rander … your grace's hous to thame 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1393.
Thay gart mee stand fra thame askar 1569 Bann. Memor. 1569.
I think mony tyme, the devill gart men make now to be ane regent 1622 Glasgow Weavers 68.
He had gart him play clatter on the cassie lyk ane auld pigeellipt. a1568 Scott xxxiv. 55.
Thay wary ȝou that gart it(b) (c 1580) Alex. i. 994.
He him to the ground gard ga a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxv. 157.
Gud Judith garrit him bleid 1588 Misc. Spald. C. II. 62.
Ane schemfull deid I gairtt thame de 1610 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 177.
My siluir pyk tuith quhilk I garid Allexander Lowis bring hame out of Flanders

4. To make, cause, or do (something). 1438 Misc. Spald. C. V. 391.
In the cas quhar the hyding off suthfastnes ma gaur scathe 1490 Irland Mir. I. 73/3.
God may gar that he be neuir borne 1535 Stewart 58389.
With bitter teiris garrand hir cheikis weit 1662 Soc. Ant. (1888) 231.
The said Janet said she should gar him alse good