Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Skir(e)-Thursday, n. Also: Skyre-, Skyir-, Skeyr(e-, Sker-, Skirs-, Skyris(s-, Skyrys-, Skyres-, Schyir-, Chyris-, Skyrest-, Skyresch-, Skaryth-, Skariotis-, Skaes-, (Scheris-) and -Thursdaye, -Thurseday, -Thurisday, -Furisday(e, -Furisdai, -Fiesday. [ME and e.m.E. shereðursdai (c1200), schere þursday (c1275), shir þursdaie (Wyclif) etc.; also late north. ME Skyre Thuresday (a1450), ON Skíri-þórsdagr, f. skírr, also skǽrr bright, clear, pure, and Þórsdagr Thursday. Also in the later Sc. and north. Eng. dialects.] The day before Good Friday; Maundy Thursday. Also attrib.The forms in (c) may possibly be aphetic forms of Iscariot, reflecting a tradition associating Judas Iscariot with this day.(a) c1420 Wynt. v 1856.
He sat and ordanyt the creme [sc. chrism] ay To be made on the Skyre Thurisday [c. Skyristhurisday, W. Skirs Thursday] 1474 Treas. Acc. I 72.
Almous on Skire Thurisday 1489 Antiq. Aberd & B. III 163.
In Cena Domini ante Pascham vulgariter nuncupata Skyre Thurisday 1490 Treas. Acc. I 132.
On Skyre Thurisda … for … dublaris and coppis to xviij pure men 1498 Reg. Great S. 520/1.
Skyrfurisdai 1504 Crim. Trials I i 40.
Skir-Thurisday 1562 Inv. Q. Mary 52.
Drying claithis … on Skir Furisday at the wesching of the pure folkis fete 1571 Glasgow Chart. I ii 148.
Vpone Skyrfurisdaye, the xij daye of Aprile 1573–4 Elgin Rec. I 144.
Skirfurisday nixtocum 1621 Acts IV 641/1.
Skyirthurisdaye 1636 Glasgow Chart. II 596. a1651 Calderwood III 703.
Upon Thursday the 28th of Marche, commounlie called Skyre Thursday 1661 Rec. Old Aberd. I 22.
Skyrthursdayes fair(b) 1489 Treas. Acc. I 108.
On Skyrys Thursday, giffin for the kingis almus clathis ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 38.
To wesche the foull claye feit of ȝour discipillis apoun Skyris Thurisday 1561–2 Treas. Acc. XI 153.
To Maister Johnne Balfour for the service to be done on Skyristhurisday nixttocum in Falkland 1574 Treas. Acc. XII 383.
For the doull and almous of oure soverane lord gevin on Skyristhurisday last to certane pouir bairnis 1646 Falkirk Baron Ct. 7 April.
He promeissit to have cumit and ressaveit the said lintseide vpone the nixt weik efter Skyres Thurseday 1657 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 142.(c) 1535–6 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 166.
Skyreot Thursday 1537–8 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 190.
Skariotis Thursday 1540 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 217.
Skyreoch Thursday 1540–1 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 232.
Skaryth Thursday(d) 1498 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 305.
In Cena Domini ante Pascha vulgariter nuncupata Skeyrthurisday 1498 Treas. Acc. I 384.
To serue the pur men of thair siluir on Skeyr Thurisday at the seruice(e) 1518 Treas. Acc. V 146.
Sker-furisday(f) 1540–1 Elgin Rec. I 57.
The nyxt law day eftir Schyirfurisday(g) 1520 Perth Hammermen 13.
For candill upon Chyris Thuirsday in the kirk(h) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1149.
Eftyre, the next lentryn … he leite that haly tyme ga by Til that scheris [pr. feris, MS theris] Thursday come nereattrib. 1687 Paterson Geog. Descr. 17.
Skire Thursday Fair at Glasgow … Couper of Angus, Elgin of Murray

b. A market held on this day. 1664 Rec. Old Aberd. I 105.
The mercat called Skaesfiesday