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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Doctour, Doctor, n. Also: doctowr, -oure, -ur, -ore, -eur, -er, doc(k)tir. [ME. doctour (1303), -ur, -or, OF. doctour, -or, -eur, L. doctor.]

1. One eminent in learning and able to instruct others, esp. in matters of theology or religion.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 723.
Thai doctouris thane on the morne … Tald thar avisione in hy ?1438 Alex. ii. 2560.
Bot thusgate sayis our antecessouris Of all science and doctouris 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 9.
The littistares sal fynd the empriour and twa doctoures, and alsmony honeste squiares as thai may 1456 Hay I. 38/3.
Here declaris the doctour … as thareapon spekis Orosius the noble doctour Ib. 106/19.
This is the opynioun of oure maisteris and doctouris c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 55/26.
The haly doctour & gret clerk Sanct Augustyne sayis in his buke [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 46.
The exposition of autentyk doctours apprevit be the auctorite of haly kirk 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 169.
Of ane fule to make a wise doctour Ib. 241.
For thir doctouris ane message sone was sent c1590 Fowler II. 31/26.
The ancient docteurs quhais autorities nather we contemne nor dois reiect(b) c1420 Wynt. v. 1507.
A doctor gret off Crystyne fay, That welle was lettryd in hys day Ib. 4117.
Saynt Ierome that time the doctore Than deyd in Bethleem a1500 Bernardus 141.
This doctor sayis off wysdome in his saw [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I. 48/18.
Thomas Brawardyne of Ingland … doctor profound c1515 Asl. MS. I. 328/27.
The bukis of the iiij blist doctoris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 671.
Lat doctoris wrytt thare curious questionis, And argumentis sawin full of sophistrye

2. A competent teacher of, or scholar in, a specified subject; spec. one on whom the title has been conferred by a college or university. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 698.
Twa doctouris of theology … thar-of disputacioune Thai held lang c1420 Wynt. viii. 413.
Doctor solempne … He wes in canoun and cyvyle 1456 Hay I. 1/7.
A notable man, doctour in decreis callit Bonnet, prioure of Sallon Ib. 69/35.
Johne Androw, doctour in decrete a1500 Henr. Fab. 658.
So saw he cummand … Ane worthie doctour in diuinitie Ib. 1093.
As daylie dois the doctouris of deuyne 1490 Irland Mir. I. 31/24.
The haly doctouris in theologi sais that [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 4.
Doctouris in jure, and medicyne 1535 Stewart 60470.
No preist sould be to prelacie promovit … Without he war ane doctour in his grie Into canone or in theologie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 643.
I wald prelattis and doctouris of the law With ws lawid peple wer nocht discontent Ib. 4296.
Gret doctouris of diuynitie 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 15.
The rectour most be ane … doctor or bachelar in the hyear faculteis a1578 Pitsc. I. 308/8.
The … pryouris and doctouris of theologie of the Grayfrieris and Blaktransf. 1567 G. Ball. 56.
Thay … Quhilk neuer hard the veritie, … bot blindlingis led, With doctouris of idolatrie

b. One who has received the degree of ‘doctor’. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1084.
The uolf, that new maid doctour, couth him schryif a1578 Pitsc. II. 130/30.
Certane bischopis, abbottis, and pryouris … with the docteris of the colledgis

3. A teacher or instructor. a1400 Leg. S. xv. 15.
He callit Paule … & mad him doctor generale, To preche in this warld hale c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 5/3.
[The devil is a] malicious aduocat and fals doctour to thé 1533 Boece ix. xii. 319 b.
Baldrede, ane Scott native, doctor to Pichtis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5832.
Ypocras … was Galienes doctour 1574 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 305.
In the ecclesiasticall functioun ther is two only distinct offices of teaching, the doctour that interpretes the Scriptures, and the minister to preach and apply the same

b. An assistant master in a school.(a) 1565 Peebles B. Rec. 299.
The counsall ordanis the scuill master to provid ane doctur to tech the scuill Ib.
To gait ane doictur … to tech vnder him 1597 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 157.
Maister William Skene, maister of the sang school, … sall serve bayth the kirkis in uptacking of the psalme … the ane kirk be himselff, and the uther be the doctour 1598 Ib. 171.
[They] sall only teycht be thame selfis maidyne bairnis … and haif na man doctour under thame 1640 Ib. III. 230.
To find sufficient and qualifiet doctoures, ane or ma, vnder him to teache and examine his schollares 1679 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 265.
Mr. George Glen to be doctour of the Grammer School, in place of Mr. Johne Andersoune … lait doctour there(b) 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 294.
Jhonne Haistie, doctor in the hie schole 1629 S. Leith Rec. 18.
That … the said Mr Barnard [school-master] … sall admit no doctor ather for the latine or Inglish bairnes but be the speciall advyse … of the sessioune 1640 Kirkcaldy Presb. 179.
If they may lawfullie use some means for the maintenance of ane doctor to the scole out of the kirk box 1667 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 242.
The councell … admitts and receaves them [as] tuo of the under masters and doctors of the gramer scooll of this burgh 1697 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
M^r Andrew Milne, doctor at the school of Banchorie

4. A doctor in medicine; a physician. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 250.
Doctour in phisick cled in ane skarlot goun 1562 Treas. Acc. XI. 205.
To [a] Franche dochtour, for spicis to oppin the Erle of Huntleis bodie a1578 Pitsc. I. 362/25.
They war certiffieit be the doctouris medicianaris that no successioun wald come of hir body

5. As a title placed before a person's name. 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 336.
To Doctour Babingtoun, almessar to the Quene, his half ȝeris fee 1601 Misc. Bann. C. II. 231.
Dettis awand … be Doctowr Craig, xl s. 1626 Marischal Coll. Rec. I. 143.
The moneyes left be the said Doctour Liddell ar accresced to ten thousand merkes 1639 Spalding II. 35.
Doctor Williame Goold, suorne cheplane to his Majestie, and minister in Abirdene