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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.

Helter, n.¹. Also: heltir, -ar. [North. ME. heltere, -ir, -yr (14 … ), midl. and south. halter, haltre, OE. hælfter, hælftre.] A halter. Also attrib. with stalk.(1) 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 328.
For ane doubil helter with tua stalkis 1501 Ib. II. 27.
For thre gret helteris to tua coursouris and the mule 1517 Ib. V. 130.
For … breddil and helteris bocht for the Kingis mwle c1500 Rowll Cursing 230 (B).
But heltaris, heidtailis, sonkis, or sadillis 1618 M. Works Acc. XV. ii. 71 b.
Towes to be helters & bindingis to the hors 1662 Highland P. III. 15.
[She] pulled the helter out of his hand and turned the horse back from the slap 1681 Foulis Acc. Bk. 88.
For rops … to be helters to the 2 horsefig. 1567 Sat. P. iv. 117.
Ȝour craftie consaitis … Ar Medeais helters to bring vs in ȝour netattrib. 1500 Treas. Acc. II. 29.
For ij heltir stalkis(2) c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 120.
I serue … in ane helter to be hangit 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 93.
With helteris hie to ty on tre Thy poysonit edder stangis 1638 Bk. Pasquils 43.
To keep their neckes out of the helters

b. To tak the helter of (a horse the ownership of which is in dispute), to take hold of its halter as a sign that one claims it as one's own in the face of a contrary claim by another. (Cf. Helter,n.²).1518 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 48 (see Hamehald adj.). Ib.
This inquest thinkis becaus the party is cummyn befor the rising of the balyeis ... to tak the helter of the mere it man be hard. ...That daye James Collan tuk the helter of ane broun mere producit be Jhone Todryk the quhylk mere adam Scot persewit ... and maid hir his be ane preff of fatht