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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.

Livery(e, n. Also: -ey, -ie, -ay, -ae, -aw, lyvery, -e(e, -a(y, livaray, livora; livry, livray, liwra, lievrey; lif(f)ra(y, lyf(f)ray. [ME. livere (a 1300), lyvere(e (14th c.), lyveray (c 1450), livre (14th c.), lyfre (1463), AF. liveré (1292), OF. livree, fem. p.p. of livrer Liver v. Cf. Levery and Luveray.]

1. A gratuity or bounty in food, clothing or money bestowed periodically on one's retainers or servants. 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 492/2.
His ȝerlie fee [as chamberlain etc.] … with his lifrais, abilliamentis and all dewiteis aucht and wont of the said officis 1542–3 Ib. III. 9/2.
Ane lettir maid to Elizabeth Mathesoun, … makand hir principal lavendar to the quenis grace … and to have fre lyveray and dewiteis conforme to the … bill of houshald 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Liberatio.
Ane fee given to ane servand or officiar … is called ane liverie; feodum or fee is commonlie of silver … and ane liverie is of meate or cleithes 1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI 24 Feb.
This dayis liveray of aill rebattit for non sufficience and ontymus furnesyng 1598 Ib. 31 July.
Allowit to … hir majesties maister tailȝour … in contentation off his fie and ordinar liueray the said moneth

b. An allowance for provender for a horse. Also, to enter to lyveray. 1485 Acta Conc. I. *107/1.
The somez clamyt be the said Patric apoun the said Thomas for boys wagis and hors liffra 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 368.
For Johne de Cowpanis hors met or he enterit to lyveray

2. Clothing bestowed as ‘livery’ (sense 1) upon servants or retainers; espec., such clothing in a design distinctive to the bestower; a uniform, also, a distinctive badge of cognizance, worn by the officers or servants of a corporate body (such as a burgh) or by soldiers.(a) 1375 Barb. xix. 36 (C).
Thre hundreth and sexte had he Of squyeris, cled in his liverye [E. lyvere] 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 104.
The xvj day of December beginnyn to giff lyverayis, in the first for v elne Franch blak to Schir Peter Crechtoun vij li. 15.. Clar. iii. 2341.
Thay brocht ane goune of skarlot … weill furrit with potent rich armyne. Then blyth was this gudwyfe of hir livaray Ib. iv. 1519.
I pray ȝow … Helpe me to distribute my livaray Ib. 1578.
Sir Clariodus Thir quhyte livoras hes ordanit thus Because that he the Quhyte Knight was before 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 86.
For ane lyveray to Cudde at his passing to Striueling with the young men 1617 Brechin Kirk S. 13 May.
That James Gordony sall have weeklie four s. hencefurth … and ane joup off blew as his livray 1622 Sc. Ant. XIII. 162.
Next followed two leckies cled in cullers or livery having the coat of black velvet [etc.] 1633 Maxwell Mem. II. 230.
Threttie brave tall men with the Kingis liverae vpone thair bakis 1661 Nicoll Diary 342.
The provest [etc.] … wer … present personalie … and thair officeris … in thair best apperrell and lievreyis usuall at such solempniteis 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 337.
[He was] the cornols foster brother, bearing his liverey 1684 Sc. Ant. XV. 28.
Vagrant persons who have hitherto imitated the livery of the Kings sojors 1727 Stirling B. Rec. II. 200.
They will allow him [a piper] a meet bodied coat with the towns livery thereon(b) 14.. Bute MS. fol. 70.
The fadir off the parte, … na nane that his lifray weris … na nane that til hym sal ȝelde ferme 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 233.
To Pringill … for a liffray to mak a dans again Vphaly day, iiij ellis of taftays 1535 Ib. VI. 260.
Lyffrayis 1548–9 Ib. IX. 289.
Gevin to ane servande of my lorde governoures for ane precept … to deliver him ane hale lyfray, in x crounis of the sone 1550 Ib. 408.
To Alexander Stevvinsoun, lutar, to by him ane dule lyfray, x li.

b. In (into) (one's) livery, wearing one's distinctive livery, also, among one's retinue. 15.. Clar. iv. 1530.
I please weill … that ȝe Formist of all into my livaray be 1681 Red Bk. Menteith II. 196.
I will heave four footmen in liwra 1685 Sc. Ant. XV. 27.
The kettle-drummers of that regiment [are] to be for the future in our own [royal] livry

3. Attrib. a. Given as ‘livery’ or bounty; serving as a distinctive livery or uniform.(1) 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 494/2.
Liveray claithis of silk, that is to say, ane dowblat of crammisy satin [etc.] 1526 Ib. 541/2.
Ane lettre to Jonete Douglas, of the pensioun of x lib. for hir lifetyme, etc., with livery clathis ȝerelie at Ȝule 1677 Cunningham Diary 94.
For 3 ells white cloth for livery cloaths, 5.0.0(2) 1669 Douglas Chart. 342.
Ordaines that every duke have noe more then eight lacquies in liveray coats 1674 Cunningham Diary 35.
To Wm Cuningham to buy 4 ell stuff to be a livery coat 1685 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 154.
The souldiers ther liveraw coats(3) 1456 Hay I. 145/30.
Othir is thare that takis … thair lyveree gownis anys or twis in the ȝere 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 29.
For lyveray govnis to sex ladys of the Quenis chalmire at hire passing to Quhytehirne 1474 Ib. 61.
To xiij ȝemen.of the Kingis and the Queynis, to thare lyvera govnis at the parliament, xviii elne of blew(4) 1671 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 405.
All maner of ribbens, gallownes, … and liverie laces — 1672 Thanes of Cawdor 326.
6 dozen liveray mandles — 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 233.
To Pringill and Carrik … viij ellis of chamlet, rede and quhite, to be ilkain of thame a liffray pe

b. Livery-boy, a liveried serving-lad. 1681 Thanes of Cawdor 354.
The lifra boyes suits