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.
Lawer, n. Also: lauer; lawar(e; laweir, -eyr, laueire. [e.m.E. and late ME. lawer(e (Prompt. Parv., 1526, 1543): cd. Lawier n.]
A lawyer: a person trained in the law, a member of the legal profession; a legal adviser, attorney or agent. Also attrib. with gown.Cf. the older man of law, Law n.1 6 b.(a) 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 427.
Mony sayis … That sum solistars … Vincusis laweris in thare cause, For all thare ledgin of the lawis 1566 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 226.
Maister Richert Strang, lawer 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 302.
Than spak ane lawers wyfe, baith trym and gent 1586 Rait & Cameron King James' Secret 69.
My lord thesawrar and secretarie Welschinghame with sume wther hir majesties laweris and hir advocat c1590 J. Stewart 221/ § 87.
The glosing lawers 1600-1610 Melvill 275.
The uther … greidie, and neidie, and thairwithal a lawer, attending on Session, and wating to mak his prey of the soumes of contravention 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 99 b.
This treatise following … writtin in English language be some learned lawer, not lang time bygane 1619 Garden Elphinston 255.
He was, … To mony lauless lauers now A guiding lampade light 1627 Kelly Pallas Armata (1627) Pref.
I haue set out this treatise, principally for the use of my fellow-lawers 1656 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III. 579.
Payit for herenis and buttir sent to Edinr to ane lawer 281. 8s. 4d. 1684 Glamis Bk. of Record 29.
Sir Wm Bruce being a contentious and teuch lawer will be verie troublesome 1685 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 30.
The supplicant to have the libertie … to … convers with his frinds & lauers c 1696 Buccleuch Mun. II. 372.
Lawerys 1689 G. Hickes Inst. Gramm. 15.]
[Scoti in multis Saxonizantes jurisperitum dicunt a law-werattrib. a1691 Kingston Contin. Ho. Seytoun 64.
Alexander Seton … made his public lesson of the law … in his lawer gown and four nooked cape, as lawers used to pass their tryalls in the universities abroad(b) 1575–6 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 46.
The merchanttis, scribis, and lawaris 1622-6 Bisset I. 66/20.
He send … his … leirnest counsalouris and lawaris, throw all uther realmes … to reporte to him … the … lawes thairoff Ib. II. 275/33.
Maister Baldred Bissett … wes ane lerned laware send to Rome(c) 1604 Conv. Burghs II. 185.
Gif ony of the saidis commissioneris or laweiris remayne at hame 1638 Hamilton P. 51.
Ther is not anie laueire heire that … dayre undertak his charge ther 1658 Nicoll Diary 210.
The Judges of the Court of Sessioun, and … the laweiris, clerkis and wryteris 1657 Balfour Ann. III. 184.
For some moneyes to giue hes laweyrs and aduocats c 1696 Buccleuch Mun. II. 373.
He can not disput with laweyrs
b. Applied to: A professor of law in a University.1560 Bk. Disc. in Knox II. 217.
[The Rector's] assessoris shalbe ane laweir and ane theolog 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 14.
The College of Diuinite … Ane Principal, to be Reidar in Hebrew. Ane Lawer Ib. 15.
The lawar sal reid dayly ane hore in law 1579 Acts III. 180/2.
That the lawer and mathematiciane of befoir in the New College sall now be in Sanctsaluatouris College Ib. 182/1.
Laweir
c. A lawmaker.1638 Bk. Pasquils 53.
From cobling acts of parliament, Agains the lawers intent … Almightie God deliver us
