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.
Quotation dates: 1590-1646
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Lichter, n. Also: lighter. [ME. (1401) and e.m.E. lighter, lyghter: cf. e.m.Flem. lichter (Kilian).] A lighter, a boat or barge as used for ‘lightening’ or unloading ships (cf. Licht v.1 1 a). Also attrib. 1590 Welwod 71.
Giff in the lichtning of an schip the gear that is lowsit and put in an lighter perish by the way 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 158.
[The council] ordanis the thesaurer to caus mak ane lichter for serving the wark of the schoir of Leyth 1602 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 142.
To put the samyn [goods] in ane cabar or lichter 1622-6 Bisset II. 200/1.
Hippius … maid the first lichter for merchandice 1622-6 Ib. /4.
Illirians [invented] the cok boit or lichteris a1646 Wedderb. Voc. 22 (J).
Accatium, a keel or lighterattrib. 1625 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II. 161.
To twa wark[men] … of the said four lichter fr[aucht] carying it out upon the Sett[erday]
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"Lichter n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lichter_n>
