Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Pursmaister, n. Also: purse-maister, purs(e)mas(s)ter. [Late ME purs-mayster, -maister (both c1440), thereafter appar. only Sc.] A purse-bearer, treasurer or bursar. 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 125.
That ilk day was mayd pursmasster Mechal Forest … to kyp the common gud in and deliuer it furth with consent of the balye 1494 Ib. 195. 1524 Reg. Privy S. I 493/1.
Makand him purs maister to the king 1528 Lynd. Dreme 22.
[I have been] Thy [the king's] purs maister, and secreit thesaurare, Thy yschare, aye sen thy natyuitie 1552 Treas. Acc. X 129. 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II 176.
The thesaurer … to … pay to the pursmaister that furnist the said prouest [etc.] … thair expensis in passing in the townis effaris to Striueling [etc.] … the soume of xj li. x s. c1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 27.
Chalmer-cheld and pursmaister to hym [the Bishop of Orkney] 1556 Liber Calchou 483.
Deliuerance maid to maister Walter Balfour purse maister to my lord 1580 Reg. Privy S. VII 392/1.
Argentar and pursmaister [to the King] 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 200. 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Argentarius, a bancor or purse-maister 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 218.
And, for his servants, any one of them that were discovered in drink … he would instantly call his pursemaster, pay him his wages, never to serve him again a1686 Turner Mem. 107.
In all these journeys, I was my oune pursemaster