A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Makar, Makkar, n. Also: -are, -er(e; mackar, -er; maikar, -er, maikkar. [ME. (a 1300) and e.m.E. maker.]
1. One who fashions, constructs, produces, prepares, etc., in applications of Mak v.1 1, 2, 3, 5, 22, etc.a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 232.
Ydolis … That war na makaris bot war mad 14.. Acts I. 346/2.
The makar of the fire in the hall 1532 Exch. R. XVI. 152.
[To be] principale maister maker and meltar of our gunnis 1551 Hamilton Cat. 135.
Ilkane makar is mair excellent than is the work 1580 Crail B. Ct. MS. 20 Aug.
Anent the makaris pakaris and peillouris off herring 1581–2 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 470.
For ane disione … to the bairnis makeris of the pastyme to the kingis majestie 1583 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 176.
To John Foster, maker of the gravis 1601 Conv. Burghs II. 98.
Makeris of claith, lauboureris of woll [etc.] 1658 Musselburgh 115.
The act anent … the makeres of pennie brydelles
b. In many combinations, with the name of the product or manufactured article prefixed. As bonet-, gluf-, kame-, knapscall-, knok-, periwick-makar, etc., q.v. under the first elements.1562 Perth Guildry 316 (30 Oct.).
Ewre McKerane aqua vite maker a1578 Pitsc. I. 354/4.
Smythis, harneis makeris 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 10.
Oney … that ar malt maikkaris 1665 Anal. Scot. II. 400.
To the grave makers in Hamiltone £10, 3, 0
2. The Creator.Said of God, Christ or Nature: Mak v.1 1 b.a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 538.
Jhesu … Makar of hewine & ȝerd & al Ib. l. 753.
Knaulag … of hir makare c1420 Wynt. v. 5272. c1420 Ratis R. 528.
The first makar 1456 Hay II. 103/2.
The office of God the makare c1475 Wall. vi. 102.
The makar abow a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1035.
Thi sone and makere immortale c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 76.
Thair makar [sc. Nature] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2638.
The makkar quhilk it maid a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxx. 157.
Thy hewinlie makar
3. The author of a literary work.a1400 Leg. S. x. 566.
Dauit … makare of the saltere c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 36.
I, the makare of this buk 1556 Lauder Off. Kings p. 19 heading.
The excusatioun off the maker 1558-66 Knox II. 275.
The rest of your collegues, … makaris of this proclamatioun a1578 Pitsc. II. 312/33.
The regent … summond the makar of the same dialog callit Mr Johne Dauidsone 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 216. 1596 Moysie xvii. 1597 Elgin Rec. II. 47.
To judge vpoun all makars of cokalanes 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 457. ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II. 123.
The mackers leave no place to presume for episcopacy
4. A poet.c1475 Wall. xi. 1455.
Quhen gud makaris rang weill in to Scotland c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 256.
O reuerend Chaucere … Thou beris of makaris [M. maikaris] the tryumph riall Ib. 77. Id. iv. 45.
I see that makaris [B. makkaris, M. the maikaris] amang the laif [etc.] Id. liii. 22.
Than cam in Dunbar the mackar [v.r. makker] 1535 Stewart 128. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cv. 1.
Sum of the poyetis and makaris that ar now
5. a. One who promulgates a law, makes a will, executes a legal deed, enters into a contract, etc.: see Mak v.1 9 and 30 g, h, i.1409 Exch. R. IV. ccxii.
As the nature of the band will, and with the counsel of the makaris of it 1490 Irland Mir. I. 114/1.
The … entencioune of the … makare of the law 1498 Acta Conc. II. 197.
The sade David quhilk was makare of the sade assedacione 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 52.
Makaris of privatt paccionis with devillis 1622-6 Bisset II. 87/21.
Executouris of the testament … suld be sic personis as the maker thereof dois nominate a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 217.
The maikers of the band to compeir
b. One who performs some action: see Mak v.1 30, esp. t.Also Law-maker n., Lesing-makar n.1448 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 17.
Makaris of the said soite 1456 Hay I. 178/34.
Quhethir this athe suld be understandin be the entencioun of the makare or of the takare 1459 Peebles B. Rec. I. 132.
For tyl … dissyide makeris of that fechtyng 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 463.
Makaris of payment of the said some 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 252. 1584 Acts III. 296/1.
Aganis makaris and tellaris of lesingis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 42 b. 1664 Inverness Rec. II. 219.
[Seven men] to be bargane mackers with power to them to agrie [etc.]
c. One who appoints or creates (knights): Mak v.1 12.1456 Hay II. 40/10. Ib. 42/31.
It war lak to the makare to mak men knychtis that war nocht hable till armes
