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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Juglour, Juglar, n. Also: jugleour, jugillour; jugg(il)lar, juglayr, jugler; jugular. [ME. iuglur (a 1225), iugillure, etc., iugelour (c 1290), late OE. iugulere, iugelere (a 1100), OF. nom. jog-, jug-, jouglere, acc. jogleor, jog-, jougelour, also OF. jogeler, jougler. Cf. also Jouglour.]

1. An entertainer, jester, buffoon. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 392.
He commandit all ydill pepill, as iuglaris, mynstrallis, bardis and skafferis [L. mimos, histriones, bardos, parasitos], … to fynd sum crafft to wyn thair leving Ib. II. 294.
He commandit that na vagabound pepill, menstrallis nor iugillouris be ressauit in ony toun [etc.] a1538 Abell 29 a.
Trumpuris bardis piparis hurmasteris iugularis wes his familiaris 1538–9 Treas. Acc. VII. 150.
iij elnis … of reid and ȝallow to be ane cote to James Atkinsoun, jugleour 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2605 (B).
Thir iuglaris [Ch. jugglars], jestouris and ydill hensouris, Thir cariowris and thir quynte sensouris

2. a. One who works marvels by magic or sorcery, a magician, wizard, sorcerer. b. One who works pretended marvels or illusions as by sleight of hand, a conjurer. c. transf. and fig. A trickster, deceiver.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 770.
In com japand the ja, as a juglour, With castis and with cawtelis, a quaynt caryar a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 524.
Thow irefull attircop, Pilate apostata, Judas, iow, iuglour [M. juglayr], lollard laureate 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 193.
Mogallus, knawing this conspiracioun be counsale of iuglouris [L. prestigiatricum praesagiis], quhilkis wer rycht frequent in thai dayis 1533 Boece x. xi. 372 b.
Juglouris, witchis, nigromantikis, … sal euery ane be brynt 1561 Q. Kennedy Oratioune 19.
How Knox … plays the iugleour in ministratione of the … sacrament c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 331.
How be tha iuglours tha haue bene blindlynes led(b) 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 38.
Sua thai mak Christ to be ane iuglar and dissauer of the varld 1591-2 Rob Stene 16.
Juggillaris, that all men begylis, Divertis thair eis, with subteill wylis, Sum vder obiect to behauld, Till thay haif wrocht the thing thay wauld 1596 Dalr. I. 122/14.
Burne … al juglaris, magitianis, familiars with wicked and euil spirits 1631 Red Bk. Menteith II. 132.
Mr Hary is ane fals jugler and lyer

3. A funambulist or acrobat. a1605 Birrel Diary 45.
Ane man, sume callit him a juglar, playit sic sowple tricks upone ane tow, … the lyk wes nevir sene in this countrie, as he raid doune the tow and playit sa money pavies on it