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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Man of wer(e, n. Also: weir, veyr, wear(e, war(e, warr(e, man a weir and man weir. Plur.: men of were etc. [e.m.E. man of werre (1449), warre (1484), F. homme de guerre.]

1. A soldier, a fighting man.sing. 1456 Hay I. 159/22. Ib. 161/4, etc.
He is nocht … worthy man of were 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 68.
To the Dens man of were c1475 Wall. i. 205.
The constable a felloun man of wer … to the Scottis … did full mekill der c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 418. a1578 Pitsc. I. 288/9. 1587 Carmichael Etym. 19.
Miles, a man of weirplur. 1456 Hay I. 232/8. Ib. 162/25, 176/15, etc.
All men of were ar free to do thair spede apon the kingis inymyes ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 650.
To keip Him the Jowis put men of weir a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 466. c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 6.
In deid of armis … Most mychti, wyse … Thy men of weir to governe 1547 Reg. Privy C. I. 80.
To fee wageouris and men of weir for recovering of the same place 1549 Compl. 15/1, etc.
To gar the men of veyr retere c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 135.
Gif ȝe be worthie men of weir Ib. 701. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 197.
All men of weir … beiris apon thame thair princis baige 1559 Peebles B. Rec. I. 253.
The sojarris and allegit men of weir 1559–60 Ayr B. Acc. 33. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1962. 1558-66 Knox I. 119. Ib. II. 74.
I shall lodge all the men-of-ware into my eae that shall land in Scotland 1565 Moncreiffs 99. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 71.
His men of weir and servandis ishued out of the castle Ib. 240. 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 379.
Be reasoun thay war wrakit be the men of weir 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 132. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cviii. 9.
Of men a weir the bandis Id. Ib. xxi. 14. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 270. a1578 Pitsc. I. 174/11. Ib. 257 h. of ch.
How the King … gat [pr. gart] wot of his men of weiris falsheid Ib. II. 170/15, etc. 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 415. 1591 Crim. Trials I. 228. 1596 Dalr. I. 96/15, 158/33, etc.

2. A warship, a naval vessel. 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 492.
Resauit fra ane Franche man of were at the command of Delamote and send to the Margret Ib. 494. 1523 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 212. 1557–8 Crim. Trials I. i. 400.
For newis, thir schippis that is cumit to Leyth is menne of weir and Scottis merchandis 1570 Leslie 227.
Thair arrivit … a xxv saill of men of war 1608 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 320.
Thair said schip was takin be ane man weir (being boun to Lisburne) of Holand 1622-6 Bisset II. 229/35.
Be there men of wear