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

Ourlayar, -layer, -lair(e, n. Also: aurlair, our(e)-, owrlar; orelayer. [Cf. Overlayer n., Ourlay n. and Ourlyar n.] That which is laid over or which lies over.

1. Some part of a harness for a horse. 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 202.
To Johne Lethane, sadillar, … for liiij owrlaris and teis Ib. 219.
For xiij girthis, tua ourelaris, i pair double sterap ledderis [etc.]

2. A turn-down collar. = Overlayer n.(a) 1575 Edinb. Test. III. 363.
viij our layaris & handis price of the pece xxx s. 1578 Ib. VI. 331.
Barnes muches & ourlayaris 1602 Treas. Acc. MS. 117.
Ourlayeris, handis, and breist claithis 1615 Reg. Privy S. 21 Nov.
Ane blak cais for ourlayeris 1629 Lowther's Jrnl. 43.
The Scottish dialect: … orelayer, a band [pr. bawd] 1635 Wm. Brereton Trav. (Cheth. Soc.) 188.
Speech in Scotland. We call here … a band, an ourlayer(b) 1540–7 Waus Corr. 2.
Ye sall vit that I am verie skant of linine cloth of sarkis and aurlairis 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII. 258.
Four lynning ourlairis price vj s. viij d. 1607 Ib. XLIII. 152.
Ourlairis 1618 Ib. L. 78.
Auchteine ourlaris for wemen at iiij s. the peice 1624 Ib. LII. 266 b.
Ane dryinge pan for ourlaris 1627 Ib. LIV. 117.
Tua boxis with … certane bairnes ourlaires and vther small trasche 1641 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 428.
In sackcloth, … without ruff or ourlaire a 1700 J. Maidment New Bk. Old Ballads (1844) 14.
He ware a ponet on hims head, Ane ourlar bout hims craigie

3. Breid and ourlair, = Ourlay n. 2. 1577–8 Glasgow Chart. II. 558, 559.
Forsamekill as maister Henry Gibsoune … hes obtenit breid and ourlair, daill and divisioun of his pairt thairof, … yit he … is content to … only occupie samekill … as … the yeir preceding, upone the conditioun … following, to wit, that [the land] … be delt … in aikeris … be … casting of cavillis. … The baillie ordanis it to be fulfillit, or ellis breid and ourlair, conforme to the use of the baronie gif the rest disassentis