Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Followar(e, Folowar(e, n. Also: followair, foll-, foluar, follower. [ME. folwar(e, foluar (a 1300), feoleware (a 1225), and folewer (e.m.E. folower), early folȝere, OE. folȝere.]

1. A pursuer or claimant at law. 1397 Douglas Chart. 39.
I wil at he be … principale foluar of al dettys to me aucht 14.. Acts I. 362/2.
Gif he that is folowyt beis ourcumin, he sal ansuer to the folowar of al his scathis apon him done 1429 Ib. II. 17/2.
That … the kingis breifis … be nocht rasit … in the name or in the surname of the folowar or of the defendar 1483 Acta Conc. II. Introd. 103.
The said schiref was suspect for affinite betuix him and the said William folowar of the said breve 1517 Ib. MS. XXX. 25.
That the followar ay kep the diet of the defendour 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 102.
Fra the follower haue founden borgh lawfullie, in the serjands hand 1622-6 Bisset I. 286/14.
Gif the actioun dependis upoun land … , the pairtie follower sall obtene seasing

2. The young of a cow, mare, or hen, going with its dam or the hen. 1424 Acts II. 4/2.
The kowe and hir folovar, … the wilde meir with hir folowar 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 15.
That novdir ane no other man no weman … hald … hennis with hir folouaris 1538 Reg. Privy S. II. 426/2.
Four kyis gers, with thare followaris 1539 Reg. Great S. 426/1.
Unam le broune mere cum ipsius pullo le followar 1556 Reg. Cupar A. II. 261.
Thai [milk ky] sall nurrice … all thair followaris quhill thai be of eild 1583 Edinb. Test. XII. 154 b.
Thrie hors & ane meir with hir follouar 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV. 635.
Ane kow with hir followair

b. pl. Thirlage sequels. (Cf. Following vbl. n. 3.) 1533 Reg. Privy S. II. 213/1.
Mylnis, multuris, and thare followaris

3. a. One who succeeds another. 1514 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 147.
It sall be lesome to the persoun that sould be nixt to occupy that place … , and sa his followare to have dew course

b. One who follows a leader; an adherent. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 26/25.
The inuentouris of the samin apinioun ar haldin Catholikis, and the followaris ar haldin haeretikis 1581 Burne Disput. 142.
Leidan, ane vthir minister, … vas chosin king be his follouaris

c. A pursuer. 1596 Dalr. I. 99/10.
Thair followers thay saiflie deceiue throuch certane difficile myres