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

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

Bar, n. Also: barr, bare, bair, beare. [ME. bar(re. early ME. barre (c 1175). OF. barre, late L. barra.]

1. The bar in a court of justice. c1420 Wynt. viii. 1603.
Jhon the Ballyoll … Gert at the bar his spekare stand 1429 Acts II. 18.
Quhare twa partiis apperis at the bar 1456 Hay I. 60.
He strake bataillis agayn xij crownit kingis in the Orient, the quhilk he held at the barr c1420 Ratis R. 990.
Trow weill, It mone be swa, ore vere, Fra thow be mwter at the bare a1500 Henr. Fab. 1167.
The gled, the graip, at the bar couth stand 1491 Acts II. 227/1.
To rout na rid nor pley at bar or ony vthir way in the oppressioun of his nychbour c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 23.
Thir lairdis ar … richt far Sic ladeis behaldin to, That sa weill dar go to the bar, Quhen thair is ocht ado 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 202.
Beand passand vp and downe the counsalhous, the said William … come to the bar and thair said to the saidis baillies [etc.] 1567 Acts III. 40/1.
That the partie persewar mend his libell at the bar a1570-86 Maitland M. Fol. xxi. 69.
We cum to bar with Iak of steill

2. A bar in heraldry; a line of squares on a chessboard. c1450-2 Howlat 418.
With barris of best gold it brynt as the fyr a1500 Bk. Chess 2153.
Of two barris in all poyntis may he stand Ib. 2167.
Bot so it be throw awentur he wyn The ower bar

3. fig. A barrier (for defence or resistance). c1450-2 Howlat 384.
The Dowglas … Baith barmekyn and bar to Scottis blud bene a1578 Pitsc. I. 62/33.
Quhair throw he … thocht to mak ane bar to the king him self

4. a. pl. The game of bars or prisoner's base. c1420 Ratis R. 1244.
Resone … may nocht lat that eild to laik … Now at the prop, and vthir quhill Ryne at baris, and at the ball a1568 Scott v. 53.
Sum at the bairis they brace lyk billeis

b. = Barras 2. 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 182.
vj lang swordis and sex schort suordis for justing and tournaying and for the bar

5. The bar of a river or harbour. 1582–3 Misc. Spald. C. V. 55.
To Jon Couper to caus the toun come in to cast the bar Ib.
For the ferrie boit to carre the folk to the bar