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

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

Were man, n. Also: weir-, weyrman, warmanne. Pl. also were men, wermen, weermen, warmen. [e.m.E. warremen (1547), war-man (Shakespeare).] a. A fighting-man, a warrior, a soldier. Cf. man of were (Wer(e n.¹ 5 d (1)). b. A warship. Quots. 1491-2 and 1522-3 may belong in a.a. sing. 1474 Treas. Acc. I 69.
For certane expensis maid in her hous vpone the squere, the were man of the King of Denmarkis, xx li. 1513 Doug. x xiv 151 (Sm.).
Weyrman 1538 Reg. Privy S. II 383/1.
Nane uther capitane, gentilman, skipper, weirman [Crim. Trials I i 251, warmanne], or maryner … incur ony damnagepl. 1456 Hay I 162/16.
Quhen the weris ar jugit opinly tobe rychtwis … than may the warrayouris … wyn all that thai may … get … and gif innocent folk takis scathe than in sik opyn weris the prince na the were men may nocht … set remede c1475 Wall. iv 256.
Wallace commaundede thai suld na wermen saiff c1475 Wall. x 937.
His wermen off France … suld be haill at Wallace ordinance 1494 Loutfut MS 130a.
We may tell of thai vthir that were men suld excers and ws first thai suld be wsit to beir birdyn secound to strik with the ax [etc.] 1533 Boece 153a.
Nowthir was I irkit to haue ȝow my weremen nor ȝe to haue me ȝour chiftane 1533 Boece 236b.
Maximiane … taking the purpoure be favoure of the weremen 1533 Bell. Livy I 38/21.
He left … ane buschment of weremen to kepe the saidis tentis(b) c1500 Rowll Cursing 189 (M).
Gif thai be weir men of grit pane All thair saulis sall be slane … The membris of thai cursit men That staw the guse [etc.] 1513 Doug. ix x 27.
Heir ar not the slaw weirmen Atrydes, Nor the fenȝear of fair speche Vlixes 1525 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 226.
Thir capitanis and weirmen cumin in thir wer schippis quhilk brocht wrytingis fra king Cristiarn of Denmark 1531 Bell. Boece I 247.
All the weirmen and knichtis in his campe 1531 Bell. Boece II 415.
Not as thay had bene to fecht aganis weir-men bot allanerly … to punis certane thevis or limmaris of Ingland 1549 Lamb Resonyng 31/6.
And … send Thomas, duik of Norfok with xv^m weirmen in Teviothdaill, thair to birne the toun and abbay of Jedburgh 1559 Peebles B. Rec. I 253.
The sojarris and allegit men of weir [marg. weirmen and vagabondis] to depas 1559–60 Ayr B. Acc. 33.
Ane taxt of fourty viij thousand li. for halding of weirmen upone the Bordouris 16… Sempill P. 42/33.
Now wha will play before such weir-men, Sen Habbie's dead(c) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 26.
Weermen(d) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 253.
He returnit haistely in Kent, levand behynd him ane grete novmer of warmen to keip the municionis of Gallowayeb. 1491–2 Acta Conc. I 218/1.
The recouering of a schip … & the merchandise beand therintill fra the wermen of the Dennys 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I 212.
Thai haue bene in … vse … of bying and selling and vther wayis intrometting with men of weir that cummis in thair Firth and to by fra thame sic prises … as alienaris happenis to bring in in tyme of weir … neuirtheles the said provest … has purchesit letteres chargand the said induellaris in Leith to … ceis fra intromissione with the said prys [etc.] … allegand that that thai haue ane decrete [etc.] … in the quhilk decrete thair is na … mentioun maid of prisis tane be weir men and als gif ony pley sald happin to rys thairupoune for ony gudis tane be men of weir thai materis pertenit ay to the admirall and na vther juge 1546 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 123.
The pryces of the victualls and vthers guids laitlie cum in be the pryses takin be the Cristopher and hir company to the nummer of sex weirmen [Reg. Privy C. I 36, prisis taikin be the Cristofeir and hir fyve schippis in company]