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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ruf(e)-spar, Ruif(f)-spar, n. Also: ruife-, rwif(f)-, rouf(e)-, rowff-; ruff(e)-; roofe-, rooff-, roiff- and -spair, -spare; -sparr(e; -spear. [Ruf(e n.¹ and Spar n.¹ Cf. e.m.E. roofe-spar (once, 1648).] A beam or smaller piece of timber for use in the construction of a roof; ? a rafter; also, used as a load-bearing member in other constructions.In pl., freq. without inflection.(1) uninfl. pl. 1497 Treas. Acc. I 331.
xviij ruf spar to Hannis toure of Dunbar 1503 Ib. II 272.
For j^c ruf spar, ilk pece ij s. j d. 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 180.
vii pece ruiff spar of xviii futis lynth 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. II 45.
To ane wrycht to wirk the rufe spair thairof [sc. three shops] 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 263.
Thrie ruif spare 1629 Ib. 252.
iiii schort ruif sparepl. 1508 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 117.
And to be of lenth the ruf sparris according to the widnes of the hous 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 293.
Ruff sparris 1543 Aberd. B. Rec. MS (Jam.).
Greit treis, rwif sparris, garrownes 1558 Treas. Acc. X 426. 1582 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 206.
The schip … cum from Norrovay contenand … twa hundreth ruif spearis [etc.] 1599 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 321.
To the sawisteris … for xii drauchtt of small rowff spairis 1615 Ib. 360.
Tua divisiouns of parpan walles … of lath and roufe spares 1661 Acts VII 253/2.
Rooff sparrs of oak(2) uninfl. pl. 1562–3 Edinb. Old Acc. II 180.
Twa ruffe spar to bind the portell 1581 Treas. Acc. MS 98 (2) b.
Certane daillis and ruiff spar … for the … repairing of his hienes staiblis 1592 Edinb. B. Rec. V 351.
xl ruif spar to lay the fluring onpl. 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 97.
For reparing of the … armoraris chalmer and hous vi akin ruf sparris 1589 Mill Mediæv. Plays 196.
Tua grit ruife sparis … to be standartis to the skaffald 1595 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 580.
ix ruiff sparis to be angelleris to the scoolesing. 1583 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 178.
Ane aikkan rufe spar to be roungis & skackis to the saidis ledderis(3) uninfl. pl. 1582 Treas. Acc. MS 43.
Four double rwiff spar tobe standaris to everie traveis 1608 Misc. Spald. C. V 84.
Twa syngill ruiff spar to be angleris Ib.
Three dubill ruiff spar to be twa jebettis 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 26.
30 great double ruif spar at 30 s. the peice 1619 Ib. 135.
Sex scoir ten double ruif spar for geistis at 24 s. the peice 1633 Ib. 310.
Twentie dowble ruiff spar … for outtredding the timber yaird Ib.
xii great dowble ruiff spar at xl s. the peice Ib. 334.
Halff hundereth great single ruiff spar for biging of some timber stabillis … at xvi s. the peice Ib. 335.
Fourteine small single ruiff spare at vii s. viii d. the peice Ib. 350, etc.
Threttie nyne small dowble ruiff spar at xxxii s. the peicepl. 1595 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 580.
x doubill ruiff sparis to be lathe to the sangscoole 1599 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 316.
Thre double ruiff sparis to the bilyaird buird at xvi s. the peice 1611 Ib. 329.
Sex double rouf sparis and xii single at xviii s. the on and ix s. the other 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 329.
Dowble ruif sparis the hundreth xl li., single roofe sparis the hundreth xx li. 1622 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 147.
For sawing viii doubill rufe sparres for warping to the wardrop pressis 1626 Ib. 197.
For carying of xxiiii doubill ruife sparres … to the castell to be gantreississing. 1600 Crim. Trials II 195.
He saw ane fallow bering ane singill roiff spar on his schoulder 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 375.
Ane dowbill ruiff sparr