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.
Quotation dates: 1596-1661
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Cabar, n. Also: cowbar. [Older F. cabarre, var. of gabarre (now gabare), whence e.m.E. gaber, gabard, etc.] A lighter, a gabbart. 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 178.
[The council] fynds expedient that the cabar maid in Leyth be Jhonn Scott … be bocht fra him 1601 Ib. 290. 1602 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 142.
Gif … ane merchand … commandis him to put in the samyn in ane cabar or lichter 1622-6 Bisset II. 200.
Penicens [invented] the keill or demie bark as [sic] greit cabar c1650 Spalding II. 208.
The Parliamentaris … send doun six barkis, or grite cabarris, full of ammvnition c1650 Ib.
His Majestie … shot and sank thir cabarris to the sea ground 1661 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 458.
To caus bring ane cowbar full of sand from Cardrois to mix with lyme for casting of the steiples [etc.]
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"Cabar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/cabar>
