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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†FAUTER, n. Also faater (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), fauto(u)r, faulter (Abd. 1794 Sc. N. & Q. (1905) VI. 184). A wrongdoer, a defaulter, esp. against Church discipline.Abd. 1701 W. Cramond Church of Aberdour (1896) 47:
The Session to appoint a four nooked big stool to be made of an ell high to stand in the mids of the floor before the pulpit to be a Terror to faulters, that they may come from the remote public places and stand ther when the minister rebukes them.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems 33:
I've been a Fauter, now three Days are past.Ayr. 1796 Burns Had I the Wyte ii.:
Let him be planted in my place, Syne say I was the fautor.Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Sept.) 662:
“Mattie Macleg, ye limmer,” quoth he, “ye are a sad and sinfu' fautor; ye hae louped owre the fauld-dyke o' grace.”wm.Sc. 1836 Scottish Annual 306:
Had he no been a laird, it's lang afore ye wad hae let your dochter put up wi' my auld joe, or hounded yer session on ae fautour.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 26:
The hin'mest fau'ter wha steud i' the Mary Kirk joggs wus Willie Brock.Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. xviii.:
Noo-a-days a man is coontit grit, gin he binna a fautour.