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.

Lair-silvir, n. Also: layr- and -silver. [Lair n.¹ 4.] The price charged for a grave or burial-plot. (? Latterly chiefly north-eastern.) 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 116.
For the erding of Quintin Focart and for his lair silvir and wynding scheit 1576 Alyth Par. Ch. 61.
Compt of lair silver of buriell within the kirk 1581 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 44.
That … na personis salbe bureit … without payment of xxx s. of ilk person for his lair siluir, except onlie sic personis as hes fundationis in the said parroche kirk 1634 Boharm Parish Mag. (Mar. 1891).
This day four merks delyvered be Ro^t Stewart of Newton in part of payment of his umqll wiff her layrsilver 1642 Strathbogie Presb. 32.
No burialles shall be made within … ony … kirk within the presbyterie, without payment of four libs. lair silver be the inhabitantis