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.

Layar, -er, n. [ME. leier, leyer (Wyclif).] One who lays, in senses of Lay v.¹ a. One who lays or sets (anything) in a certain place or out. b. One who lays stones, a mason's workman of this class. Also ca(l)say-, causey layer, q.v. c. One who assesses or rates a tax or levy (= taxt-, taxatioun-layer, q.v.).a. 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 156.
Quhatsumeuer nychtbour that reprehendis the layaris of the said fulȝe in the place forsayd 1675 Ib. IV. 291.
For any red, middings, or fulȝie that shall be takine out of the closses … and laid doun wpon the foirstreet, if the owners or layers out tharof doe not [etc.]b. 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 22.
To vi verkmen this wolk with the layaris at the luggis 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 88.
Murdo Walker masoun … sall … with fyve layaris and sa mony barromen … enter on Monunday 1567 Ib. 239.
The said [masons] sall … furneis sand, lyme, stane, masoneis, layaris, quarriouris, barromen 1578 Ib. IV. 75.
Layerris 1610 Ib. VI. 61.
The said Androw to fynd sufficient masouns layeris and hewars with himself 1633 Ellon Par. Rec. 77.
To the layers of the stepis 18s.c. 1596 Elgin Rec. II. 40.
The nichtboris layaris of the taxatioun