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

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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.

Elder, Eldar(e, a. Also: eldeyr, helder, ealder; heldar, eldair. [ME. elder(e, early ealdre, OE. (Angl.) ældra, (WS.) yldra.]

1. Of two brothers: The older or senior. c1420 Wynt. v. 3347.
Tha the eldare bruthir slwe Ib. vi. 1811.
Schyr Edmwnd, the eldare brodir, Deyd rycht swne 1511 Reg. Privy S. I. 344/2.
He salbe responsal of the movable gudis of aireschip to his broder elder

2. Added to a name to distinguish the older of two persons, esp. a father from a son of the same name.(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1343.
Hanyball the eldare yhude, Wytht a welle gret multitud 1432 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 285.
Robert of Groundliston ȝungare & Robert of Grondliston eldare 1471 Acta Aud. 21/2.
Nichol Spethy ȝounger and James Greif … procuratouris to Nichol Spethy eldare 1529 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I. 95.
Patrik Drew, son to Jhon Drew, heldar 1543 Reg. Cupar A. II. 25.
To … Symon Donald, eldar, Jonet Rettray, his spous, and to Symon Donald, ȝonger, thair sone 1587 St. A. Baxter Bks. 41.
Jhonne Aytoun, ȝounger, son lawchtffull to Jhonne Aytoun, eldar 1592 Acts III. 623/2.
Williame Hwme, eldair(b) 1486 Reg. Cupar A. I. 238.
Lattyn the xij pairt of our landis of Coupergrange … to Wil Meik elder 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 81.
Manys Cromede, eldeyr, … Manys Cromede, yownger 1525 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I. 87.
[A] halfmerk land lyand in Carmyle, quhilk Jhon Wynȝet, helder, brukyt last 1558 St. A. Baxter Bks. 10.
At command of James Browne, elder, decane, in presens of the craft 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 4.
The sessioun … presentis … Johne Wallaces of Dundonald, elder and yunger 1642 Fam. Rose 329.
Huchon Ross ealder of Kilravoke 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II. 3.
James Haldine, elder, miller, … being challengit for not giveing obedience to the act of counsell

3. Older; of greater age (either comparatively or absolutely).(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 599.
Auld Clarus … Hes heir asseged this citte, That elder is all out than I Ib. 2028.
Ȝe ar baith better and eidar borne c1420 Ratis R. 1376.
Ay the eldar that thow bee, The mar the vyce encouerys thé c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 48.
The ȝungar at the eldar leiris 1513 Doug. vii. ix. 132.
Mony of the hyrdmen, amangis quham was ane, The eldar Galesus 1533 Bell. Livy I. 100/19.
Alwayis he had ane brother, eldare of ȝeris than he was 1596 Dalr. I. 209/28.
Thay … soulde gyue a hunder pledges nocht ȝounger as xviii ȝeiris … nor elder as xxx Ib. II. 211/15.
Hector Makintoshe gouernour in his place tha electe quhill the rychtuous heire war elder(2) 1456 Hay II. 137/13.
Calf flesche, mutoun geldit ȝong and elder 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 267.
viij ky eldar & ȝoungar price of the pece of the auld kow xl s. 1567 Edinb. Test. I. 42.
Foure scoir fyve scheip ȝounger and eldar 1597 Ib. XXX. 48 b.
xiij scheipe ȝounger & eldar(3) 1456 Hay I. 280/16.
My kyn and ancestris ar of eldar begynnyng na ȝouris 1513 Doug. Comm. v/1.
Wyne the eldar the bettir 1588 Edinb. Test. XIX. 38.
Fyve dosone of lynning seruiotts, tua thair of new and the rest elder 1605 Ib. XL. 103 b.
Sex dosoun of new lynning serviettis, … aucht dosoun of eldar serviettis