A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1474-1538, 1637
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Potingary, Pottingary, n.1 Also: potyngary, pottingerie, pottingry; potinchary (apparently erroneous altered form). Plur. potingaris. [f. Potingar n.1: cf. Potegary n.1]
1. The art or practice of an apothecary, pharmacy. Also attrib. with -buke. a1500 Henr. III 150/16 (Bann.).
My prettik in pottingary a1500 Ib. 153/82.
The prectik and poyntis of this pottingary [: tary, etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii 29 (Asl.).
In potingary [B. pottingry] he wrocht gret pyne, He murdrest in to medicyne 1538 Reg. Privy S. II 399/2.
Licence … to use medecynery, potingary, surrurgeanirye 1637 Dumbarton B. Rec. 52.
To use his calling in the science of phisik, pottingerie and chirurgerie heirattrib. 1507 Treasurer's Accounts IV 92.
For … potingary bukis in Inglis
2. Drugs or medicines of an apothecary, collectively. b. plur., id. 1498 Halyb. 16.
Bocht in Brugis … a li. dragalinga … and othir potyngary1496 Ib. 15. 1495 Ib. 21, etc.1501 Treasurer's Accounts II 34.
To William Fowlar, for potinchary tane fra him to the king 1505 Ib. III 158.
To Johne Mosman … to mak potingary for Mastres Barleis arme 1507 Ib. IV 76.
For ane pan in Strivelin for the quinta essencia and potingary thare 1508 Ib. 135.b. 1474 Treasurer's Accounts I 24.
To Stephin potingare … for certane materialis and potingaris deliuerit be him to the king
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"Potingary n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/potingary_n_1>
