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

(Scar,) Scair, Skar(r, n.¹ [ME and e.m.E. scar (Wyclif), scarre (1530), ? aphetic f. F. escarre, eschar(r)e (15th c. in Larousse).] fig. a. A scar. b. ? A blemish or fault. (But perh. the text is corrupt.) c. comb. ? Cleft or split with the scars of conflict. —a. 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI 221.
It is thought that the skarr of ther greiffis doth still stick in ther hartis that awayte opportunitie for revenge —b. 1615 Urie Baron Ct. 14.
The pickman … being persewit be Stewin Forbis for spilling of certane cornis be grinding thairof … is ordaneit … to pey ten pundis toties quoties he happin to fall in the lyk scair —c. 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 92.
Their wiues and children cry when will they come [sc. back to Scotland]? Yea, yea they come but with an empty hand … Wherein I vow that England turnes a curse To … my spent gentry and their purse … And why? cause in a Rodomunto, they Play the Orlando Furioso aye: As well in humours, as in lavish charges, Which makes most femals weare such skar-clift targes Where deepest strokes in strugling force are given Till both mens ribs and rigs are backward driven