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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ourhed(e, adv. Also: oure-, owr(e-, ore- and -heid, -heyd, -head. [Our prep. 10; cf. Overhede adv.]

1. = Overhede adv. 1.a. At an average rate per head. b. In total.a. 1482–3 Acta Conc. II. cxxiii.
xiiij^xx of scheip, and of tha vij^xx yowis and the remanent yeld scheip, the price of the pece ourheid iiij s. vj d. 1489 Ib. I. 108/1.
Owrhede 1498 Ib. II. 193.
Nyne gannys [sic in pr.] gret and small with thare chawmaris, the price of the pece owrehed [£5/6/8] 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 335.
For schering of auchtein skoire v elnis claith … for ilk elne ourehed, iiij d. 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 198.
That the servand to the tronar sall haif for his labouris … of ilk polk and sek ourheid iiij d. 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 134.
For ix lyme killis setting … ilk kill ourheid witht the coill and cariage … [£4] summa [£36] 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 185. 1576 Reg. Privy S. VII. 120/1.
And estemand the chalder of victuall quheit beir and meill yeirlie ourheid to xx li. 1584 Rec. Earld. Orkney 163. 1586 St. A. Test. II. 53 b.
Twa caff beddis and ane nap bed price of the pece ourhead xiij s. iiij d. 1586 Perth B. Ct. 17 Sept.
Extending ourhede of mydling prysing to thre s. vj d. the pund 1587 Conv. Burghs I. 267.
For ilk tun [of wine] ourheid, better and war, seven scoir li. 1665 Kirkcudbr. Test. MS. 9 May.
4 horse and meirs pryce oreheid [£20]b. 1546 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) Merschell v. Muire.
Tua kirnis price of thame baith ourheid v s. 1555 Peebles B. Rec. I. 218.
That all aill ourheid be maid gud and sufficient aill for iiij d. the pynt 1559 Prot. Bk. Gilbert Grote 40.
Ane gold ring callit ane signet of gold, witht vtheris twa ringis of gold, all weand ourheid ane vnce of gold 1561 Hist. Pluscardyn 256.
Remember … to ressave particulare assignatioun, becaus thay are gewin in ourheid in the rentall 1597 Edinb. Test. VII. 94.
The equall half of tua drave boittis estimat baith the sydis ourheid to the soum of [£120] 1597 Crail B. Ct. 31 Oct.
Ane meir price x lib. nyne oxin by the airschip price of thame all ourheid [£162]

2. ? Over the top (Hede n.¹ 6), over the surface. — 1513 Doug. ix. xi. 105.
The seys mixt ourran, and all ourhed [Sm. ourheyd, Ruddim. ouerhede] Blak slyke and sand vp poplit in the sted