Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Pichar, -er, n. Also: pych-, pitch-, pitsch- and -ere, -ear, -air; -ard; pyghar. [ME. (c 1290) and e.m.E. pich-, pycher, pytcher (1514), pichard (1598), etc., OF. pichier, picier, picher, pop. L. *piccārium, med. L. picarium, bicarium. Cf. Pechar.] A vessel for liquids; a jar or pitcher; also, the quantity, esp. of ale, held by a pitcher.In at least some instances, appar. accepted as a standard measure (? approximately one gallon) of ale. c1475 Wall. vi. 437.
A werk man come … pychars had he to sell 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV. 102.
iiij pycharis to quinta essencia a1508 Kynd Kittok 34.
Than to the ailhous agane scho ran the pycharis to pour 1523 Wigtown B. Ct. 138 a.
xx d. the price of ane pychere of ayll 1530–1 Linlithgow B. Ct. 16 Jan.
That na ale be sald derar than xij d. … vnder the pane of the brekyn of the picharis 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 86 (B).
Picher c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6184.
One pynte stope and one quart One galloun pitschair … of wyne or balme 1573 Prot. Bk. Gilbert Grote 92.
Pitchear 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 21.
For ane pyghar of aill 1587 Carmichael Etym. 45.
Amphora, a great pitcher 1600 Adamson Muses Thr. 226.
A pitchard full of coined gold a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1782.
Your gentrice jaipes like wasching of pitchers c 1631 Paterson Ayr & Wigton I. xii.
He … found a pitcher law With ashes and bones 1654 Conv. Burghs III. 388.
For ilk hors load of … lame pottis, pitcheris … 4 d. 1689 Brechin Test. VII. 211 b.
A water pitcher iij s.