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.

Overlord, n. Also: ovir-, ower-, owir-, owyrlord, ovyr-lorde. [Var. of Ourlord n., after Over prep. 10 and ME. ovyrlord (14th c.).] = Ourlord n.For further examples see e.g. Enteres n.¹, last air Last a. 2 b, Non-entres n., Superiour n., Tenant n.a. 1420 Reg. Episc. Morav. 475.
Be for a nobil lorde … Thomas Erle of Mureff his ovyr lorde of his landis of the barony of Kerdale 1510 Dysart Rec. 2.
[Forfeited] their landis … quhilk tha pretend to hald of me in chief as over-lord foresaid within my said barony 1570 Bk. Mackay 403.
[To] mak to thame thare … aith of fidellitie … as vassallis aucht to thair owir lordis and superioris c1575 Balfour Pract. 515.
And efter the man-slayer's deceis, his air … sall recover the landis furth of the over-lord's handis 1592 Crim. Trials I. ii. 325.
The laird of Spot his ovirlord is forfaltit 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Affidatio. Id. Reg. Maj. Table, 89. 1622-6 Bisset I. 308/34. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 177.
The saids wassalls to be entered be the king or any wther overlord that ther superiorities ar holden ofb. 1486 Stirlings of Keir 257.
The saidis landis beand resignit in the said owyr lordis handis 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 188 b (30 Dec.).
Quhen it sal happin hir to be cleid with ane man, scho sal haif the tenement forsaid … with consent of the ouerlord 1578 Inverness Rec. I. 262.
Without the consent … of the baillies and cunsall of this burcht as owerlordis and superioris thairof 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Breve. Id. Reg. Maj. i. 11.
Land … halden of ovr soveraine lord the king or of sic ane other over lord Ib. 37.
And to do all other service to ilke over-lord of the samine lands 1617 Acts IV. 538/1.
With consent of the barone and overlord of the ground