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 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Altere, Alter, n. Also: alteir; altir, allter, halter; aulter, awlter. [ME. altere, alter (e.m.E. also aulter), OF. alter (var. of auter, see Auter(e, L. altāre Altare. The form might also represent OE. and ON. altere.]

1. An altar.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 365.
In the kirk before the altere Ib. xxxiii. 318.
In the mydis the altere c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 420.
As thyr forsaid bestes were Leyd to be brent one the altere 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 7.
Solemnytly befor the haly alteir 15.. Clar. iv. 2409.
In regale seats … befor the hie altere(b) a1400 Leg. S. v. 563.
He … gert be mad A pyte … Besyd the alter 1454–5 Edinb. Chart. 79.
Alsua ane alter to be made in the said Ile 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 64.
For the makin of thre albis … for the hie alter c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiv. 8.
Ane preist sweirit be God verey, Quhilk at the alter ressauit he 1538 M. Works Acc. V. 38 b.
Ane almery of the bak of the halter of the kingis grace chapell a1578 Pitsc. I. 283/21.
Bischope James Bettone … was taine out behind the hie allter 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 302.
Phetanissa … sought out syne, That vnder ane alter of stane had lyne, Sanct Jhones nutt(c) 1474 Peebles B. Rec. 172.
Dowande ande makand sic dew seruis bath at awlter and in quere c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2232.
Thay and thare wyfis, euerilk day, Eait all that on the Aulter lay 1580 Cath. Tr. 68/33.
In the sacrament of the aulter

2. Attrib. with clathe, graith. 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 58.
The Alter Grayth quhilk wes quene Magdalenis 1556 Liber Calchou 480.
For the wesching of the alter claythis