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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.

Huntar, Hunter, n. Also: huntare, hwntar; hunteir; hontare, hountar, -er(e. [ME. honter, hunter, huntere (c 1250).Early examples occur in the place-names Hunterisford (c 1220) and Ormehunterisland (1359), and in the personal names quoted below.]

A huntsman, a hunter; and in fig. senses. 1329 Exch. R. I. 131.
[Gilmichel hunter, pauperi 1331 Ib. 405.
Gilisio Hounter, gardenario 1365 Rot. Sc. 891/2.
Patricius Hountere, … mercator de Scotia 1420 Exch. R. IV. 311.
Per cedulam … Nicholai Huntare 1447 Ib. V. 293.]
Terrarum de Arnele Huntare, per saisinam datam Willelmo Huntare(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 2681.
All four … with bow and brais, as fallis huntaris c1475 Wall. vi. 16.
To glaid the huntar with thair merye sang a1500 Henr. Fab. 326 (A).]
[In come Gib Huntar, our joly cat 1518 Glenartney Doc.
How ȝe sal punis … commone stalkaris and huntaris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1642.
Off hym no more he doith declare Except he was ane strang huntare 1581 Burne Disput. 183 b.
Thay cum to thair communione as to ane huntaris banketfig. a1578 Pitsc. I. 175/10.
He had bene ane huntar of mischeif ower lang(b) c1460 Wisd. Sol. 694.
The woman … , quhilk is the gyrne of the hunter to tak the wild bestis 1513 Doug. xiii. iii. 27.
[The hounds] about the master hunteir … quakand standis for feir 1596 Dalr. I. 137/8.
The body … sulde be destributed at his pleisure quha war maistir hunter(c) 1456 Hay I. 23/4.
[Pope] Johne the xij, … the quhilk was a hontare 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 398.
Pouertie … fled … Amangis the hountaris in the Ylis c1536 Id. Compl. Bagsche 326.
Quhen ane strange hounter blawis his hornefig. 1600-1610 Melvill 274.
These simple foulles, this way fangit in the net of these craftie hountaris