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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Milnar(e, Millar(e, n. Also: miln-, myln-, milln-, mylln-, mylinar, -er(e; meln(n)ar; mill-, myllar(e, -air, -er, miler; mellar, -er. [ME. mulnere (Piers Pl. A), mylner(e, millere (Chaucer Prol.), myller, f. miln, mill, s.v. Miln n.] The man in charge of a mill; one whose trade is the milling of corn; a miller.(a) 1337 Rot. Sc. 493/1.
[Johannes le milner de Aymouth 1364 Exch. R. II. 177.]
In salariis … Willelmi Milner c1420 Wynt. vi. 1621.
The mylnere Hym thare resaywyd Ib. 1625.
This milnare 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 166.
The mylnaris tende and abbe tendis falland in thar awn handis Ib.
The mylnar jeosand … his fredomis … as he was wunt 1601 Index Edinb. Test. II. 391.
John Stainehous, milner at the mylne of Lutherrie 1641 Acts V. 611/2.
Multures quhilkis of auld wer payit to the mylnares 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 365.
The haill mylinars and onder myliners of the touns mylines 1659 Irvine Mun. II. 80.
Honest yeomen folks, fermourers and mylners 1666 Corshill Baron Ct. 69.
Gilbert Dunlop, milner 1680 Glasgow Bakers 65.
That no frieman goe out of the mylnes with any of the myliners the tyme the mylnes ar goeing 1682 Peebles B. Rec. II. 106.
The myllner 1682 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 179 (7 Nov.).
[John Wilsone] milnar [at Dalbetie] 1684 Galloway P. 7 Feb.
The vsewall small multir [to go] to the millners at the milne 1695 Brown Paisley I. 349.
Ninian Pattesoune, millner(b) 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I. 115.
Andro Melnar has tan the meln of Peblis 1459 Ib. 130.
Melnnar(c) 1467 Reg. Dunferm. 358.
John Millar 1469 Acts II. 96/2.
All myllaris that slais smotis a1500 Colk. Sow i. 64.
A malgratious millare c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiv. 69.
Sic pudding-fillaris, discending down frome millaris 1512 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 109. 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 209. 1534–5 Ib. II. 68. 1537 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 147.
The myllaris hous and ȝaird 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4109.
Find me … ane millair that hes na falt 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 288.
To the myllars that helpit the stule togidder Ib. 292, etc. 1566 Peebles B. Rec. I. 302. 1567 Sat. P. viii. 43.
Sum millar of ane myll 1568 Inverness Rec. I. 172.
Thair principall myllar and crope berar of thair mylnes a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxiv. 2.
Tak … a myllar that will not steill 1577 Inverness Rec. I. 256. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 240.
Ladyenit with meill and convoyit be sex suddartis in millaris weid a1578 Pitsc. I. 209/6.
Then the myllaris wyfe … cryit for ane preist to the King 1582 Laing Chart. 259.
The just thyrll … keipit the mill hymselff and was callit Rob Miller for the sam 1586 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 57. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 15. 1618 Urie Baron Ct. 29.
Alexander Maky, miler at the milne of Cowie 1628 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 368.
The haill mylnes … to be servit be ane myller and ane knave … allanerlie 1629 Ib. 369.
That the fermoraris sall mak chois of the myller of the tounes mylnes 1633 Misc. Spald. C. V. 220. 1640 Anal. Scot. I. 385.
The baxteris and millaris had fled from the toun 1658 R. Moray Lett. 9/19 March.
To have given me thanks by the heap to pay myself at the millar of Carstaris rate 1674 Cunningham Diary 27.
Alex. Millar, being a miller 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 431.
5 seats in the wast kirk … for the milers in the Water of Leith 1697 Foulis Acc. Bk. 209.
To the millar for letting out the milndamcomb. a1500 Peblis to Play 171.
Ane meikle millar man(d) 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 76.
To the mellaris 1604–5 Misc. Spald. C. V. 76.
Spendit witht the melleris … in taking ordour … anent thair service at Vyndmil 1607–8 Ib. 137.