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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.

Coffer, Coffir, n. Also: coffre, cofre, cofer, coffar, coffyr, cofyre, kof(f)ir; coiffer, -ir; coufer, cowffer. [ME. coffre, cofre, coffer, cofer, etc. (also coufre, cowffer), OF. coffre, cofre, L. cophinus.] A box or chest; a strong box in which valuables are kept. 1329 Exch. R. I. 141.
[Pro vno pari cofrorum 1383 Ib. III. 167.]
Viginti marcas sterlingorum de coffris regis(a) 1456 Hay I. 70/6.
The grete tyrane … has na cure of thing in the warld bot to fulfill his coffris 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. 12.
The soume of v^c li. is pait to the Kingis coffris 1488 Ib. 80.
In a poik of canves beand within the said coffre of angell nobillis sevin hundreth and fyfty 1506 Ib. III. 50.
For ane fedir bed for the Quene … for ane pair coffrez to hir(b) 1456 Hay II. 154/10.
Syk mennis cofferis … ar unfillable Brus viii. 490 (E).
Thai fand in till his coffer A lettyr that him send a lady 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 80.
Fund be the saidis persouns in the blak kist thre cofferis, a box, a cageat 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 260/2.
The soum of xx lib. to be payt to him of the kingis cofferis be the thesaurare 1516 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 22.
A coffer of bane and two pare of shetes 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 492/1.
Makand the said Henry kepar of the kingis cofferis and chalmerer to the king for his life time 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 75.
To the caryaris of my lord governouris cofferris 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7091.
Than vp scho rais, and to hir coffer went, And brocht the ring a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvi. 42.
Lat it be sein in-to the burrowis toun That in ȝour cofferis hes lyn this mony ȝeir 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 258.
Ane litle coffer in forme of ane coid of grene velvot 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 910.
Borrowing ane coffer to keip his claythis 1588 Edinb. Test. XIX. 51 b.
Sax cofferis in the hous(c) c1420 Wynt. v. 5519.
Cristis cote … till Iherusalem … Wes browcht, and in a coffyre closyd c 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 201.
j coffyr coruyn for the resurrectioun 1498 Halyb. 250.
Paid for a coffyr with drawand laykynis 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 140.
To Maister Johne Murray to by ane coffir for the casualite rollis 1516 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 161.
Ane greit round coffyr bandit with quhit irne 1572 Inverness B. Rec. I. 213.
Ane coffyr wyth xij thrattye schilling peces thairin 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 209.
Thay schot na keyis to brek the coffiris than 1621 Maxwell Mem. I. 333.
To the wattirman for taking the coffir doune the wattir to the schip 1632 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 12.
The act [to be] put in the schottill of the koffir 1649 Wemyss Chart. 231.
All the noue stoufs … in the kofir(d) 1539 Ayr Common Good Acc. MS.
To Alane Boyman for taggis putting to the commoun coiffir 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 131.
That the haill counsall bukis … be … in sure lokfast kistis and coifferis 1637 Elphinstone Mun. 25.
Ane coiffer withe the guidis, geir, … robis and wtheris(e) 1568 Buch. Indict. 38.
Sche … gaif to the said erll Bothuell out of hir awne couferis … diuers riche abulȝeamenteis 1570 Reg. Morton I. 51.
Quhen the cowfferis ar seyrchit that my awne geir may be deliuerit to my servandis

b. Attrib. with hors. 1534 Treas. Acc. VI. 198.
xvj bellis for the coffer hors