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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.

Bowar(e, Bower, n. Also: bouer, bouir. [ME. bower (15th c.), f. Bow n.¹] A bow-maker, bowyer.(a) 1444 Exch. R. V. 180.
Johanni Boware de Edinburgh pro arcubus emptis ab eodem 1457 Acts II. 48/2.
That thair be a bowar and a fleger in ilk hede towne of the schyre 1471 Ib. 100/1.
At na bowar … mak ony speris bot gif thai conten the samyn lentht 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. 45.
To the boware that makis the Kingis bowtis 1503 Ib. II. 389.
Payit to Johne Mayn, bowar, for lx justing speris at the mariage, ilk pece iij s. 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 80.
Ressavit fra James Alexander and the Inglis bowar 1575 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 657/2.
To the bowaris boyis and the smyths boyis in drinksiluer 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 250.
James Fergussoune, boware 1601 Ib. V. 286.
Thomas Gibsoun, boware(b) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 273.
To Johne Mayne, bower, for seasonnyng of the kingis bowis, … and for certane speiris 1541 Ib. VII. 445.
To Johnne Forestar, bower, for arrowis hedis [etc.] 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. V. 70.
To Jon Robertsone, bouer in Sanct Andrewis 1641 Acts V. 562/2.
The haill friemen of masones, boweres, couperes [etc.] 1658 Elgin Rec. I. 309.
Wrights, … coupers, bowers and clubmakers are to have a deacone 1667 Poems Royal Archers 61 (J).
His Majesty's bower Alexander Hay wan this arrow