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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.

Metstar, -er, n. Also: mettstar(e, -ster, met(t)ister; and Mester. [f. Met v., with suffix as in baxter, brewster, cunstar, linestar etc.] = Mettar(e n. Also attrib. with -dewtie.a. 1582 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 99.
That the commoun metstar met the malt 1594–5 Misc. Spald. C. V. 59.
To the metsteris for metting of the saids coillis 1621 Acts IV. 632/1. 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 55.
James Adam admittit mettister 1679 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. 25 a.
To pock holders, … To leaders and metsters to drink 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 49.
To the metster for meting 24 daill coalls 16s. and eall 1s. 1683 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 73.
Admits … Andrew Hilstoun mealmaker to be ane of the metsters in Leith of all sort of meall bear [etc.] … as alsoe coalls and peats or any other thing that the metsters at Leith are in use to mett —1688 Reg. Privy S. 3 Ser. XIII. 369 (see Metting vbl. n. 1 a (2)). —1697 Conv. Burghs IV. 243. 1702 Ib. 328. 1703 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI. 121.
John Ritchie, mettsterb. 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 415.
That of all wollin clayth maid within this burgh … the commoun metster awcht to haif na dewtie for the sam without he be cawset to mett the said clayth 1592 Ib. V. 65.
The office of commoun metster and keping of the elvand 1603 Conv. Burghs II. 160.
Common metisteris 1604 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 98. 1605 Glasgow Chart. I. dcxv.
Thair sall be ane commoun metster of wound clayth 1669 Brown Paisley I. 302.
None sall have such ane elwand but the common metster, who sall measure for both partiesc. 1675 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 16 Oct.
To be two common metsters within the burghe … till Michelmes nixt 1677 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 89.
Ane comone mettstare for metting and evining of the mailling lands 1703 Foulis Acc. Bk. 324.
To Jon Scot, suorne metster in Ed^r, for measuring the lyning of the wester roumeattrib. 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 415.
He to haif his metster dewtie thairof [sc. of cloth sold] to be payet be the seller