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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.

Kard(e, Kaird, n.¹ Also: keard. [Var. of Card n.²] A card, the instrument for teasing wool, tow, etc., before spinning; also used for dressing cloth to raise a nap.The cards were used in pairs, one being held in the hand (see hand-caird, Hand n. 16), the other fastened to a ‘stock’ or support (see stok-card, -kaird, and cf. kame-stok, Kame n. 2 b and Kaming-stok).(a) 1502 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 123.
The vrangvis withthaldin of … ane quheill and j par of kardis, j par of kamys [etc.] c1500 Rowll Cursing 109 (B).
Sum with kamis and sum with kardis 1564 Inverness Rec. I. 118.
Ane payr kardis(b) 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 129.
Ane spynning quheill and ane pair of kairdis 1596 Elgin Rec. II. 45.
Black woll, quhilk scho krissit with kairdis 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 50.
Thair nidils, spindils, kairds, roks, and vther domestik affaires 1625 Orkney & Shetl. Test. I. 138.
Four pair woll kairdis, … tua pair tow kairdis 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 110.
Wnto the quhilkis persones the said maister salbe obleigit to furnish wool, kairdis, and wheillis for kairding and spynning 1645 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 44.
A lint quheill with kaird and kemmes 1659 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 229.
[For a pair of] kairds [15/-] 1668 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 369.
Sumonds against … the manufactorie at Leith for making certane kairds and other … materialls belonging to Aron Deken kardmaker(c) 1569 Inverness Rec. I. 180.
Ane payr auld keardis 1623 Black Bk. Taymouth 377.
Ane pair of keardis

b. Attrib. with broad (a board). 1631 Elgin Rec. II. 220.
Elspet Watsone brunt the strae of the cradle … upon a karde broad