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 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mettar(e, -er, n. Also: -ier. [North. e.m.E. metter (1681), otherwise appar. only Sc., f. Met v.: cf. ME. (Wyclif) and e.m.E. meter(e, -ar.] One who measures; chiefly, a person officially appointed or authorised to measure saleable goods or land.A measurer a. of dry goods, b. of drapery, c. of land.a. (a) 1454 Perth Guildry 14 Dec.
That thare be a mettare of al colis cumand be fer to met thaim in the batis 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 54.
That na mettaris be tholit apone the mercat daye bot that ilk man meit his awine witell his selff 1529 Ib. 102.
And we dischargis all women mettaris of mell within the burgh 1562 Thirds of Benefices 161.
[Paid to the keeper, receiver and] mettare [of the girnels of Fife £20] 1576 Crail B. Ct. 20 Nov.
Alex^r. Myllar is electit … the commone mettar and mesorar off the colis sawld … within this burgh(b) 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 156. 1583 Ib. IV. 303.
The metters, thai to haif for metting off ilk chalder victuall within the cuntrie aucht penneis 1584–5 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 103. 1643 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 11 b.
To the colstreles & metters for teckin vt the colles 9 li. 11 s. 4 d. 1643 Old Dundee I. 60.
David Scott, metterb. 1502-3 Reg. Privy S. I. 135/2 (see Mettable a.) — 1516 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 163.
The auld … consuetude that the Kingis metter of claith sould haif of strangearis of thair claith Ib. 164.
Robert Glen, metter 1576 Orkney Oppress. 20.
As the mettar thairoff, Magnus Leslie, confessit 1593 (1650) Dundee B. Laws 133.
Ane common metter … for metting of all cloth … who sall have aucht pennies for the metting of ilk hunder ell of single plaidingc. 1577 Glasgow Chart. II. 559.
Ilk ane … maye have and gett thair parte effering to thair rentall … as it salhappin to fall … be sycht of the suorne men of the warde and ane mettar 1578–9 Ib. 561.
And siclik ordanis the expens maid on ws and the mettaris 1650 Dunkeld Presb. I. 272.
[Three acres of land … measured by James Hutton] an ordinary mettier and measurer of lands 1670 Ib. II. 489.
And having called for a publik metter of land compeired one John Richard