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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Us(c)her, n. Also: uschere, -ar(e, -ear, ushar, wschare. [ME and e.m.E. ussher (Wyclif), usher (1485), AF usser (12th c.), OF u(i)ssier, uscier, huisier, pop. L. *ūstium, L. ostium door.] An usher, a doorkeeper; an official of the court or the exchequer. Also with qualifying term. Also fig. = Isch(e)ar(e n.In early use as a surname. Cf. Black Surnames, s.v. Usher.‘The Usher … was in origin an officer of the household … in 1393 Robert III conferred upon Alexander de Cockburn, hereditarily, the office of Principal Usher of the king at Parliaments, General Councils, and feasts, and gave him an allowance for two men-at-arms and two archers … The duties of the office, besides bearing a rod in front of the king on the occasions of his presence in Parliament, seem to have consisted in the receipt of fees on promotions to dignities and other gifts or confirmations, of gifts from the Crown'; R. S. Rait The Parliaments of Scotland (1924) 516. (Cf. also Acts XII Index, s.v. Usher.) 1330 Exch. R. I 274.
Roberti Vscher 1379 Rot. Sc. II 20/1.
Fynalaus Usher de Scotia mercator 1434 Exch. R. IV 596.
Rogero Uschare c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 97.
Stude at the dure fair-calling, hir vschere, That coude his office doon in connyng wise 1480 Acta Conc. I 49/1.
Schir Johne of Culquhone … vschar in the tyme of our souerane lordis chawmer durre 1517 Acta Conc. MS XXIX 179.
The lord kepar of the king … sall mak uschearis and keparis of enteres at his plesur 1517–18 Crim. Trials I i 265.
To Dauid Lindesay, the kingis wschare 1522 Mar & Kellie MSS 12.
There sall be with the kings grace ane master of househald, ane coppar … his ushar [etc.] 1632 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 480.
Petir Newtoun gentleman uscher to his Majestie 1633 Maxwell Mem. II 234.
Wigtoun wold had place. I hard the King refuis, alledging his place was bot as Grand Vscher a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 374.
The chancellor asking the usher if it was time of supper, & he answering that it was more then time [etc.] 1684 Misc. Maitl. C. III 158.
To the usher of our exchequer of old fee £11 10 s. 1699 Misc. Maitl. C. III 172.
To Sir Archibald Cockburn of Langtoun our heretable usher £250fig. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 183/14 (Asl.).
He that can nocht reule his mouth that is vschere [Ch. & M. vschare] to the hert how suld he cum to knawlege to haue gyding of gret thingis ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 8.
It is such a confirmation as he has ay grace to bee the predominat fitter and master usher to it c1700 M. Bruce Good News in Evil Times 26.
They make the Sabbath, as it were, Mr. Usher to their visiting of Christ 16.. Maidment Balfour Ballads 5.
Whose prodigall usher, Ladie Providence, Fraught their desires with a right large expence Of golden strength

b. Usher Depute (of Exchequer), an assistant or deputy usher of the Exchequer. 1707 Acts XI App. 141/2.
The petition of James Stephen Usher Depute of Exchequer humbly sheweth that … I have been obleidged to furnish the commitys of parliament with several necessarys such as coall candle paper pens and ink and gave attendance [etc.] … for which I hade no allowance