Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Hyr(e)man, n. Also: hyer-, hyirman. [ME. (appar. rare) hirmon (a 1310), earlier hurmon (13th c.), OE. hýrmann.] A hired servant; (chiefly or only) spec., a farm servant hired for wages, a hired ploughman. 1456 Hay I. 240/17.
The varlet of the labourare, that is for to say his hyre man that dryvis the pleuche 1561 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 281.
He … sclanderit Janat … at sche wes hwyr to hyr awyn servand and hyirman 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 69.
Suddainlie assembled hird and hyreman that perteinet to the band of the Kennedies 1593 St. A. Test. II. 325.
To Jhon Hedderwik, seruand, hyreman, for his fee and bountaz of the Witsounday term … fyve lib. 1626 Misc. Spald. C. V. 223.
Quhatsoeuer husbandman beis fund absent from ony vapinschaw, he sal pay fourtie schillingis … ; and euerie hyerman ten schillings; … the husbands to pay for thair hyremen c1650 Spalding I. 299. Ib. II. 321.
He also plunderit the ground, barron, gentilman, hird, and hyreman, … be exacting of havie fynes 1685 Brechin Test. VII. 125 b.
To Robert Spark, hyrman, for ane years fee, xvj lib.