A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Stor(e, Stoir(e, n. Also: stoyr, stoar. [ME and e.m.E. stor (1297), store, stoor, stoer (all Cursor M.), OF estor (12th c. in Greimas), f. estorer. Cf. Anglo-L. staurum (1196 in Latham).]
1. coll. Provisions, foodstuffs.c1475 Wall. v 1036.
Gret purwiance was ordand thaim befor, Bath breid and aylle, gud wyne and othir stor
2. Cattle, oxen, sheep and/or horses, collectively; livestock, generally. Also pl.The quot. Abell 119a may properly belong in 1.1329 Exch. R. I 138.
De v martis, receptis de stauro episcopicoll. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 436.
Thai cast na perellis of before, Na lufys na forsicht, corn na store 1498 Acta Conc. II 238.
Withhalding fra him of the avalis and proffittis of corne and store that he micht haf had of the sadis landis of Unthank a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 362.
I latt the wit, I have land, store and stakkis 1533 Boece 39.
Scottis thareeftir to the ilis with thare store and bestiall made oftymes repare 1533 Boece 63b.
In this age the offerandis of the pepill assignit to thare immortale goddis … was ane porcioun of corne or vthir store [L. frumentariæ pecuariæve] quhilk was remanent of the sustentacion of thare preistis 1533 Boece 69b.
Leiffing thare landis, villagis and burrowis without store [L. re pecuaria] or vthir plennyssing 1533 Boece 143b.
The ground … in pasturis and naturall gers to flokkis and store maist convenient [L. pascuis armentis & gregibus aptissimis] 1596–7 Exch. R. XXIII 155.
To Alexander Young … for the ingaddering of store to his majesteis Lomondis … £30 ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1884) 52.
Ane ile callit Ellan Fabill, verey guid for waike store and fisching ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 65.
Ane ile callit the Bak … very gude for store, namelie for stwidis ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 67.
Ane ile callit Egge … with mony solenne geis; very gude for store, namelie for scheip 1662 Crim. Trials III 612.
We sall destroy hows and hald Both sheip and noat in till the fald. Litle good sall come to the fore Of all the rest of the litle store! 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 491.
Discharging of all persons to eat flesh during [Lent] … wherby the young store and bred might be preserved 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 456.
The storm continued till March 20, mens cattel perishing, young store all died 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 21.
The eagles do much hurt to the young store, falling doun upon their lambs and hens(b) ?1438 Alex. i 34.
The vale … That of mair stoir aboundand was, As of sheip, oxin and of ky a1447 Bower Chron. II 232 n.
In strait placis gar keip all stoire 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 44.
Still war the fowlis fleis in the air, All stoir and catall seysit in thar lair 1531 Acta Conc. MS XLIII 108.
Cattale, nolt, scheip or uthir stoir 1531 Reg. Soltre 104.
He sall find thre sufficient oxin … and ane hors with othir stoir and seruandis … for plenesing of the ground 1578 Bk. Carlaverock II 484.
Scotland vpoun that marche is ane pastour ground … vnproffitabill … bot for bestiale … Ane man, to be sustenit honestlie vpoun his stoir inlykmaner as his nychtbour salbe sustenit with cornis sall occupy mair ground nor ten tymes he that levis be the cornis 1578 Bk. Carlaverock II 487.
The Kingis advantage in … plennissing of the ground that now ather is waist or occupyit be thevis, quhairof the stoir nor wollis cummis to na gude vse 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 207.
The gratest pairt of thair revenew and estait consistethe in the bennefeitis and profeitis arysing frome thair stoir speciallie by the commoditie of the wollpl. a1538 Abell 119a.
Thai … birnt Coldyngame … and gat haill the stoire & spulȝe 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 208.
They wilbe forceit to unplenische thair rowmes and quyt thair stoiris rather thane to underly a daylie hazard and charges without returne of profeit by the rent of thair woll quhilk is … the principall bennefeit wiche that kynd of husbandrie can affordd
b. The keeping of livestock, as a type of farming practised.1531 Bell. Boece I 48.
The commoun pepill was gevin, that time, to store of beistis, and teling of thair landis, but ony othir industry
c. attrib. Store-buik, an account-book in which details of livestock transactions are entered. Store-grass, grazing for livestock. Store-man, one who tends livestock. (Cf. Storemaster n.). Store-roum, grazing-land for livestock. Store-steid, -steiding, = Store-roum (Sted(e n.1 4 and Steding n.).(1) 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II 236.
Referrand the compt of the takin away of the scheip to the store buik(2) 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 345.
The Highlanders were well on it, had store of milk, their cattell thriving, all manner of store grass in plenty, their pastures in glens fertil beyond beleefe [etc.](3) 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 368.
xxti tydy ky … twa oxin [etc.] … the quhilkis gudis war deliverit to the sade Adam … as hir hird and storeman of the sammyn(4) c1610 Melville Mem. 382.
The rest of your stoir rowmes, lying in the far south partis, ar in sic handis that they wald not be medlit with as yet; bot some yearly nomber of wethers wilbe easely granted be them that possess presently the saidis stoir rowmes 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 208.
It is to be considderat that give the quhole stoir rowmes quhilk ar set out to tennentis … sall … be unpeopled and laid waist the nobilmen … quha hes the haill or maist part of thair estaitis in arrabill ground sall [etc.] 16… Exch. R. I 51.
The king had manssis, store-rowmes, forestis [etc.] … in many of the saidis schyres and bailȝeries(5) 1561 Wigtownshire Chart. 83.
[To deliver the] bowsteidis [and] stoirsteidis [of the abbey, together with cattle, corn and plenishing] 1591 Edinb. Test. XXII 318.
As to the inventar of geir in my stoir steiding I refer the samyn to my beltane buik and vpgeving of my executouris
3. Abundant or sufficient supply (of some quality, commodity, etc.); large amounts, numbers or quantities, more generally. Also, grete store.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 59.
Sic stoir of vyce, sa mony wittis vnwyce 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 5.
Quhill scho was greit with childe he suld chuse him sum ȝoung gentilwoman quhairof thair was greit stoir a1585 Polwart Flyt. 199 (T).
In stoir of lambes and lang taillit wedders, Thow wattis quhair money cupple gais, In scheilling, tyit fast in tedderis c1590 Fowler I 149/7.
Besyde these wonds which store of beutye maid, Which skant of bontye [etc.] c1615 Chron. Kings 31.
The nobillitie and kirkmen … had twa ȝeiris efter this grit plentie of wictall and all stoir of stuiff 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xviii 11.
No eyes can render store of teares To mourne aneugh thy losse 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 89.
I houp that ȝour Lordship sall find into this shyr not only sufficient stor of men, bot also verie weill willed freindis 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 3.
There is great store of … bewters, turtle-doves, herons, dowes [etc.] 1637 Innes Sketches 519.
Yow maye command greatt stoire thereof [sc. fir seed] 1640 Anal. Scot. I 385.
They found great stoir of cheis c1650 Spalding I 277.
Monro … distroyit treis, tymber, and deallis, quhairof thair wes stoir c1650 Spalding I 284.
His girnellis brakin wp, and store of victuallis pairtit amongst the soldiouris a1651 Calderwood IV 154.
Good ingynes, wherof no nation hath greater store than ours c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 525.
Ther be great stoar of dear and roe in Knodeord 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 345 (see 2 c (2) above).(2) 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xx 14.
Thy gloryes schyne, Quhich, lyk the boundles ocean, swels no moir, Tho springs and founts infuis thair liquid stoir
b. A large number (of things); a host, flock (of animals or birds).(1) c1590 Fowler I 16.
A store of sindrie sort of historeis(2) a1500 Colk. Sow i 154.
All the store Ruschit out with a rore This pig quhen thay hard him a1500 Colk. Sow iii 121.
So stout a stoir come of thir brether twelf And thair sisteris [sc. poultry] I can nocht say my self The fyiftie pairte thay wer so fructeous a1500 Colk. Sow iii 127.
Sum of this stoir this Cokkelby did sell Sum auld sum ȝung sum eggis in the schell 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 205.
Forby thir beists … thair wes mony in that store, That I had neuer sene 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 46/96.
Then came to her of fowlis, a woundrous store Of diuers kinds
c. Sufficient content or material.1554 Knox III 166.
In everie ane poynt wer stoir yneugh for ane lang orisone
4. A stock, supply, accumulation (of something). Also (in fig. contexts) treasure store, and to put in store.Also attrib. with place and fisches.1573 Cal. Sc. P. IV 640.
The pulder is for Edinburgh castell, the stoir quhairof wes consumit be the late troubles a1585 Arbuthnot in Maitl. Q. 124/163.
Of trew freindis faine wald I have sum stoir a1585 Maitl. Q. 256/12.
Assuir thy self thairfoir In it [sc. a book] of tresour stoir 1633 Macgibbon & Ross V 552.
For 4800 Caitnes sklait spent of thair stoir at the castellattrib. 1507 Reg. Privy S. I 223/1.
Al and sindri his and tharis landis, rentis, … hous[is], tenementis, biggynnis, takis, stedynnis, store placis, grangis, woddis [etc.] 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 423/2.
Landis, … rowmys, bailȝerais, grangis, stoir placis, woddis, lochis 1529 Reg. Privy S. II 8/2. 1533 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS IV 18.
Parkis, stor placis, cornis, catellis 1535 Liber Melros II 626.
With all and sindre thair landis … takkis steiddingis rowmes possessionis grenges fischingis storeplaces cornis cattel and gudis 1539 Peebles Chart. 58.
Thare … maner places store places grangeis pasturis [etc.] 1540 Irvine Mun. I 44. 1547 Misc. Spald. C. II 204. —1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 31 Jan.
Stoir fisches Item deliuerit be Henry Warlaw to Robert Eduard in Leyth for twa hundrethe thrie scoir dry keiling pryice of the hundrethe xx lib. … mair bocht fra ane man in Edinburgh thrie barrell salt salmond
b. ? The accumulation of years.c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 6/59.
Quhill store and hore my ȝouth devore Thy name I sall ay nevyne
c. ? The accumulated evidence (in a case).1535 Stewart 2224.
Heir haif I laid thair rychtis bayth togidder, Befoir ȝow heir, quhairfoir lat ȝow considder Quha hes the rycht, and argo weill thairfoir; Syne cast the werst as ȝe think ouir the stoir
5. In (into) store. a. Of goods: In storage, stored up, accumulated. Also fig. b. Of books, etc.: Preserved, retained, in (a person's) keeping. Also transf. c. Of persons: Available, to hand. d. In confinement.Chiefly const to kepe, lay (up) and the like.a. 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 285.
To salt and gaddir togiddir the hydis, kepand thame in stoir a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 66 (W).
Some [sc. bees] cunninglie the wax hes wrocht To heape it vp in stoire a1624 Edinb. Univ. MS ii 319.
For thow hes nather landis nor rentis Nor richis laid in stoir 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III 224.
That all the cornes in store within the toune be put wnder inventar for interteining of the regiment c1650 Spalding I 162.
Thay plunderit … about 22 scoir bollis of victuall, whiche he had laid wp in stoir within his girnellis of Kemnayfig. 1567 G. Ball. 61.
I haif faultit sore … heipand warkis into store For my remeid 1567 G. Ball. 65.
Cause me thairfoir haif hope in stoir, In Thy mercy and sweit promeis 1567 G. Ball. 93.
Thy gudnes and beningnitie … quhill I leue vntill I die, Thow lay thame vp with me in stoir 1567 G. Ball. 136.
I ask nathing of thé thairfoir, Bot lufe for lufe to lay in stoir a1568 Scott xxxv 31.
To Fader gloir be evirmoir, To Sone and Haly Spreit; As wes afoir, now is in stoir, And ay salbe, sobeit a1585 Maitl. Q. 241/58.
O that I could set fourth Thy prais aricht And thame in mynd to beir for euermoir O happie thryis that thame can keip in stoirb. 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 67.
Virgil sawis ar worth to put in stor 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 330.
[If it please your grace] thai wryttingis suld be kept in stoyr for all aventeures 1562-3 Winȝet II 17/22.
Thai thingis be our forbearis til ws deliuerit, and amangis ws laid vp in keiping and stoir 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 125.
Ȝe keip in stoir hir letteris and wrytingis to quhilk ȝe gif traist 1584 Acts III 295/2.
That nane of his hienes subiectis … presume … to keip in register or stoir ony bukis, ryme, act, band or writt … tending to the … approbatioun of the sametransf. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiv 40.
The heven, and eik the arthe, Ar keip in stor for fyre, Unto the day of last iudgmentc. 1571 Sat. P. xxix 32.
The preist … his concubine wald hyde in hoill and boire, And quhylis quhen he tyrit of ane wold gett in othir in stoire c1590 J. Stewart 227 § 110.
Curssit vyce … Quha seruing hir haid mignons mo in stoir Than [etc.]d. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 31.
Seing that the quene wes kepit thay blamit opinlie the regent that reservit the quene in stoir 1570 Sat. P. xiii 134.
God wait gif ȝe be jaips to hald in stoir Or bony byrdis to keip in to ane cage
6. A person's possessions; accumulated goods or money; wealth.Some examples may belong in 2 above.a1500 Colk. Sow ii 100.
A man of stoir a1500 Colk. Sow iii 72.
Besyd this Colkelby Thair duelt a man was rich of stoir and fie a1568 Bann. MS 51b/53.
Quhat helpis than ȝour micht ȝour stoir Quhen warldis welth away is went a1585 Maitland in Maitl. Q. 67/100.
Sum … can not be content … Bot gif thay fill thair handis With other mennis landis Geir vittall and stoir
7. To set one's store in, to regard as precious, value highly.a1585 Maitl. Q. 249/2.
The lyon for hir tender whelpis dois roir And quhy? Becaus in thame scho set her stoir
