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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ȝo(u)ngar(e, -er, Ȝungar(e, -er, compar. adj. (n.). Also: yongar, -er, yhongare, ȝonnegar, yoingar, younga(i)r, -or, yhoungare, ȝowngar, -er, yowngare, -er, yhowngare, -ere, yhowyngyr, yungre, -er, yhungar, ȝwnger, yioungar, ȝounar, younar, ȝownar. [ME and e.m.E. ȝunngre (Orm), ȝeunger (c1200), ȝungere (Layamon), ȝongore (1297), yonger (Cursor M.), younger (1593).]

A. adj. Younger, in sense 1 of Ȝo(u)ng adj., esp. of a brother or son. Also ellipt. b. specif. In collocation with a name, distinguishing a younger person from an elder of the same name, freq. son from father. See Elder adj. for further examples. Also const. of a place.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 669.
Thu ȝongare is thane I c1420 Wynt. i 473.
That he suld serve the yhowyngyr [E. ȝonger, W. yongar] brothir Howe evyr it happnyd off the othire c1420 Wynt. ii 210.
Thus Jacob wane the eldest gre, Thowcht yhungar [C. ȝongar, W. ȝoungest] in the byrthe was he c1420 Wynt. vi 316.
Yhongare [W. ȝoungare] c1420 Wynt. viii 609.
Yhowngere 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 168.
Gif it hapnys the forsade Dauy to deces befor his fader, Robert Kant his ȝungar bruthir sal hafe the sade tak 1521 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 102.
Youngar sone and air aperand to the forsaid Villiem of his land 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10425.
I dude to honour age, Sic office ganis to ȝounger personage 1596 Dalr. I 113/9.
Thay ar of sum nobil hous, the … ȝounger sones of erles, lordes and knichtes(2) 1578 Reg. Privy C. II 707.
Gude will schawin unto him in his youngar aigeellipt. a1500 Henr. Fab. 256 (A).
The eldest mous was gyde & ȝeid beforne The ȝoungar till hir wayis tuk gud kepe a1500 Bk. Chess 864.
Experiens into a prudent knycht Dois mor in battall … Than of a ȝoungar inexpert the hardynesb. (1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 1138.
Justine yungre 1432 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 285.
Ȝungare 1453 Melville Chart. 39.
Jhone Lummysdeyne, yhoungare 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cix.
William Sinclare, yunger 1497 Acta Conc. II 74.
Thai deliverit that Alexander Setone, yonger, was nerrest of the fader kin to the sade Alexander Setone, his fader 1497–8 Melville Chart. 52.
Yowngare 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 316.
Robert Herys, elder, his son, Robert Heris, yonger 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 81.
Yownger 1513 Doug. ix vi 137.
Quhilk gyrdill ane Cedicus … send … to ane Remulus … this ilk prynce … This gyrdill left to ȝongar Remulus Hys tendyr nevo 1515–16 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 47b.
Ȝounger 1548 St. A. Baxter Bks. 3.
Ȝowngar 1553 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I 142.
Ȝowngar 1558-66 Knox II 379.
The quene asked counsall of … the old Laird of Lethingtoun, (for the youngar was absent) 1573 Grey Friars II 260.
Youngair 1574 Anal. Scot. I 280.
Yoingar 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 518.
Jhon Scrymgeour ȝownger of Glaswall 1589 A. Hay Nobility 62.
Yonger 1615 Melrose P. 208.
Yioungar 1622-6 Bisset II 111/29.
Robert Bruce ȝoungare, or midmest, father to the victorious king Robert the first Bruce 1642 Falkirk Baron Ct. 16 Sept.
Ȝunger a1650 Row 125.
Ȝonnegar 1663 Galloway P. 5 March.
Youngor 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 8 April.
Johne Carsane ȝoungar tailȝer 1692–3 Logie Par. Hist. I 36.
Ȝwnger(b) 1518 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 203.
The quhilk day Johnne Duncane yovnar barbour vas maid burges 1564 St. A. Baxter Bks. 11.
Ȝounar 1584 Maxwell Mem. I 317.
Ȝownar(2) c1420 Wynt. v 4135.
Yhowngare Teodosius c1420 Wynt. vii 3303 (W).
The ȝoungare Malcome Erll of Fif

B. noun. A young person, a school student. 1650 Inverurie 323.
This day the aritors, wadsetters [etc.] … to giv ther judgment anent the man they would hav to be ther schoolmaster [etc.] … hereupon the session [etc.] … did condescend with Mr. Alex. Mitchell … and that to try how the youngors profitit with him, assuring him iff be any neglect in him the youngors did not make proficiency, he should be changit at the quarter end