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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.

Our(i)sman, n. Also: oures-, owr(i)s-, oris-. [Var. of Over(i)sman n., after Ourman n.]

1. = Ourman n. 1 and 1 b. 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 102.
That we [sc. barbers and surgeons] micht have yeirlie chosin amangis ws ane kirkmaister and ourisman to quhome the haill brether of the craftis foirsaid sall obey 1525 Wigtown B. Ct. 173 a.
Patrik Mvre alderman fand ane broch … apon Gilbert M^cCayne for the rabelling of his ourismen 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. 121 b.
The burrow court of Drumfres for ellection of the oursmen jugeis [sc. provost, bailies, liners, dempster, etc.] 1572 Peebles B. Rec. I. 338.
My lord provest … as our superiour and ourisman 1596 Dalr. I. 127/11.
In euerie prouince ar owrismen quhome of ane ald titil we cal schireffis [L. vicecomites] 1597 Murray Early B. Organ. II. 245.
Except the knawledge of the oursmen of the toun first haid and obtenit therto

b. = Over(i)sman n. 1 c, d. 1657 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII. 18.
To Joh Reok's my owrsman 1673 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
[For] oursmans wadges

2. = Ourman n. 2, Odman n., Od(d)isman n. 1517 Wigtown B. Ct. 64 b.
The ourisman to be chochin be the dewice of the said William & Johne 1520 Ib. 108 b.
[They] hais submittit thaim to … Niniand Waus ouresman anent the crawing of ane burd & a pot 1520 Dumfries B. Ct. 25 a.
The quhilk daye the forsaids jugs & oursman … ordanis [etc.] 1526 Carnwath Baron Ct. 53. 1545 Reg. Morton II. 295.
The saidis partiis sal caus the jugeis … and ourisman to convene … And to pronunce 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 25. 1570 Rec. Earld. Orkney 131. 1577 Laing MSS. I. 27.
In cace of wariance of the said chosin freindis, we ourselffis, thairis cheiffis, to be ourismen and in cace of our wariance, the prince and counsale to be judge 1579 Irvine Mun. II. 23.
Ane ourisman to be chosin on this maner 1608 Inverurie B. Ct. 8 Dec. 1645 Stirling B. Rec. I. 188.
The counsall … apointit the deane of gild [and four others] … stentaris … and the deane of gild to be oursman

3. = Ourman n. 3. 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. 168.
George Maxvell … as ourisman contenit in … [William's] testament and haiffand power and maintenance of the said Williamis barnis 1564 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I. 6.
Jhone Craig & William Craig our executouris & Jhone Mungumry owrisman 1572 Edinb. Test. II. 264.
My executors I mak … my spous … my dochteris and the faithfull to be oursmen 1582 Ib. X. 298.
William Stewart … oursman & doar for the said Robert Stewart my sone 1590 Ib. XXI. 260.
He … ordanes his sone to chuis the oursmen 1593 Reg. Privy C. V. 83 (cf. Over(i)sman n. 3).
Ourisman 1614 Paterson Ayr & Wigton II. 412.
His father [and] … his brother orsearis [in a testament] and my lord of Lowdoune, orisma[n]

4. In Prestwick: The chief officer of the burgh, the provost. = Ourman n. 4 a. 1475 Prestwick B. Rec. 25.
The haile communite, … chessit to be ourisman … Dauid Blar larde of Adamtoun 1541 Ib. 58.
Jhone Symsoun desyris at the ourisman, balȝeis [etc.] … to … luk the ly[n]ar buyk to se [etc.] 1545 Ib. 60.
At he has dissabeyyt his ourisman & commwnite 1590 Ib. 81.
John Wallace of Cragy ourisman