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.
Liver, v. Also: liwre, lyver, lever, leiver. [ME.(? orig. north.) and e.m.E. liver(e (Cursor M.), lyvere, lever (Towneley Plays, Caxton), to deliver, in various senses, F livrer (L. līberāre, med.L. liverare), and cf. Deliver v.]Sense 2, which does not appear till the 17th c., is appar. exclusively Sc.
1. tr. To deliver, to hand or give over.c1420 Wynt. ii. 1225 (L).
Thai gert thai barnis be liverit till For to be suellyt at his wil 15.. Clar. v. 2795.
And quhen … mes was singin … Unto the kirk he liverit grit thesaure
2. a. To discharge (goods) from a ship, to unship. b. To unload (a ship). c. absol. Also said of the ship: To discharge cargo.The older word for this is Los v.a. (a) 1560 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 22.
The merchant resaver or deliverer of the geir being livered or ladned sall pay xx s. 1598 (c 1650) Ib. 51. c1650 Spalding I. 332.
Oure marchand Scottis schippis … had to Bervick … thair goodis liverit 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 94.
Ther was one Andrew Turpie … was driven in heir … quhas veshall was spoyled and liwred his timber 1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 452. 1665 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 285.
That he … was to delyver to him sex tuns … , And that therupon he had caused liver carie and lay doune the saids sex tuns … upon the said shore of Fraserburgh 1668 Ib. 355.
Therby necessitat to liver ther goods in lighters 1668 Salmon Borrowstounness 72. 1672 Acts VIII. 61/1. 1682 Cullen Kirk S. II. May 7.
That Wm. Hall caled in upon the boat and thereafter helped to liver his own goods out of hir 1684 Stirling B. Rec. II. 42. 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 538. 1694 Seafield Corr. 144.
Both the barks with your victuall came to Leith harbour on Satterdays night in good condition, and yesterday and this day it is livering at eight merk per boll 1696 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
He … brought his bark loadened with coalls and lyvered the said coll 1697 Seafield Corr. 212.(b) a1695 P. Hume Narr. Exped. Argyle, 1685 51 (J).
We could not get time for them to lever and take out our storeb. 1675 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 203.
To obleidge all unfriemen … to liver and loaden all veschellis at Port Glasgow 1676 Lauder Notices Affairs I. 119.
Captain Pidgeon did … break the Admirall's arreistment, and liver the shipc. (a) 1560 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 21.
It is statut that na schip … lay too hir braid syde to liver or load at the shoar 1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 27.
The praejudice occasioned by the suffering of ships to liver in Leith 1674 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 252. 1700 Glasg. Chart. II. 182. 1718 Glasgow B. Rec. V. 17.
That all ships that are livered imediately hale out of the way to give place to ships that are to liver(b) 1664 Conv. Burghs III. 572.
Dischairgis all merchandis of free royall burrowis to load or leiver at unfree places
