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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ham(m)erman, n. Also: hammyr-, hamber-, halmer-; hemmer-. [e.m.E. hamor-, hammerman (1535).] A craftsman using a hammer for metal work. Chiefly in pl. as the collective name for the members of the whole craft.Sometimes distinguished from smiths, i.e. blacksmiths.a. sing. (a) 1483 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 48.
That na hammerman, maister, feit man, seruand, nor vtheris … excers or vse ony maa craftis bot alanerly ane 1569 Edinb. Hammermen II. 2.
The aith gevin be euerie hammerma[n] befoir he be admittit … in maister and freman of his craft 1611 Brechin Test. II. 149.
James Mylne, hammer man, burges of Dunde 1664 Maxwell Mem. 342.
Gawane Parke, hammerman, … bindis himself to work all smith work necessarie about the iron chyne of the hors milne(b) 1650 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 519.
To Robert Johnston, hemmerman, … for furneising loomes with iron work 1665 Glasgow Weavers 30.
Anthonie Tode, hemmerman in Glasgow, … was taikin prisoner at Innerkething feght 1681 Irvine Mun. II. 293.
David Buchanan, hemermanb. pl. (a) 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 9.
The smythis and hammermen sal fynd the thre kingis of Culane 1483 Edinb. Hammermen's Seal of Cause.
Al vnfre hammirmen, bathe buthe halderis and vtheris Ib.
That na commoun cramaris … vse to sell … ony hammermenis werk a1500 Bk. Chess 1324.
Be this hammer sall ȝe wnderstand All hammer men of craftis in the land 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 449.
Last, and nixt the sacrament, passis all the smithis and hammyrmen 1569 Edinb. Hammermen II. i.
This buik contenis the actis … of the dekyn and maisteris of the hammermen 1630 Stirling B. Rec. I. 165.
The counsall … fand that the said John Henry, beltmaker, aucht properlie to enter with the hammermen 1657 St. A. Baxter Bks. 125.
The … mort cloathis belonging to the … hamermen, wrichtis [etc.](b) 1456 Hay II. 151/14.
He … alluterly sett his hert and his study to be a forgeare amang hamber men 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 45.
George Small, saidlar, … protestit … in name and behalf of the rest of the brethir of the hambermen, that [etc.](c) 1587 Dundee B. Laws 472.
The buik pertening to the halmermen of the burgh of Dundee(d) 1531 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 451.
In the Candillmes processioun … the smithis and hemmirmen to furnis the bearmen of the Croce 1646 Irvine Mun. II. 64.
The smyth craft includane … the haill hemmirmen thairintill

b. Attrib. (in pl.) with craft, trade. 1483 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 47.
The hedismen and masteris of the hammermen crafte, baith blak smethis, golde smethis, lorymaris, saidleris, cutleris, bucclare makaris, armoreris and al vtheris 1506 Edinb. Hammermen 22 b.
The maist part of the honorabill & worschipfull men of the hammyrmen craft 1597 Dundee B. Laws 473.
Thir ar the namis off the maisteris of the halmermen craft off the burgh of Dundie 1653 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 261.
The act … enjoyneing everie man to work nothing of the hammermen tred bot in such work as he is buiket 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 219.
Anent the supplicatione … be the deacone and hamermen trade of this burgh