Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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DOOMSTER, n.

1. The official, generally the hangman, who formerly pronounced sentence in Scots courts of law. Now arch.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxxvi.:
"Doomster," he continued, "repeat the sentence to the prisoner."Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxiv.:
The Doomster shewed himself, a tall hagard figure, arrayed in a fantastic garment of black and grey, passmented with lace.Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 345:
In the case of a capital conviction in the Court of Justiciary, the doom or sentence was in use to be pronounced by the public executioner, or doomster as he was called — a barbarous practice, which was abolished by Act of Adjournal, 16 March 1773.Fif. 1937 St Andrews Cit. (8 Jan.) 6/4:
The Doomster's Axe of the city . . . is one of the objects of interest in the little [Town Council] museum.Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde and Tweed 20:
I hadna time to straucht my bended back, When words cam' to me like the doomster's wail.

2. Hence, a person or thing of ill-omen.Sc. 1895 "N. Roy" Horseman's Word iii.:
Alangside cairds and dooley-doomsters like you.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail lxxviii.:
But for Dirdumwhamle, . . . to be as one in doleful dumps, is sic a doolie doomster.