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 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ok(k)er, Ocker, n. Also: okere; ok(k)ir(e, -yr; ockar, -ir, ockre; oc(c)re, occour(e. [ME. oker (Ancr. R.), okir(e, ocur, e.m.E. ocker, but latterly appar. chiefly Sc., ON. okr (Sw. ocker, Da. okker).]

a. The taking of (more or less excessive) interest or the practising of usury. (Usually referred to as a crime or sin.)(a) 1470 Wemyss Chart. 97.
The quhilk wedset, be law of our modir haly Kirk, is werre cryme of okire a1500 Henr. Fab. 1311 (Bann.).
Now is he blyth with okir [Ch. okker] can most wyn c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 70/8.
I haue synnit … be fals and vnlefull dissait in okere [etc.] Ib. 20/14.
Okire 1533 Bell. Livy I. 167/15.
This dett … was ay duplyit on him be vsure and okkir 1533 Gau 16/26.
Okker Ib. 93/24.
Okir 1599 Crim. Trials II. 101.
Thairby committand oker(b) a1500 Colk. Sow i. 105 (B).
Two lerit men … Schir Ockir and Ser Symony c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. xxxii. 8.
He … lennis nocht to ockir [P. vsure] and takis nocht mare 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4058 (Ch.).
Forȝet nocht ocker [Bann. ockar] I counsall ȝow 1551 Hamilton Cat. 10.
To len without okkir 1576 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 19.
It is ordinit that … hyre siluer is ockir and aganis the lawis c1575 Balfour Pract. 190.
Ocker 1588 King Cat. 7.
To haue a gridie desyre … to get geir, ether by deceit, reif, ocker, or siklyke vnleisome waye 1594 Acts IV. 70/2. 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Foenus, vsura, ockar 1622-6 Bisset I. 206/34. 1698 Fountainhall Decis. I. 816.
Expressly contrary to the many good and laudable acts of parliament against ocker and usury(c) 1567 G. Ball. 91.
Na occour he will vse in till his lane, Bot frelie with his nichtbour len and borrow

b. An instance of this; interest; a rate of interest. a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 114.
For the tyme cumis quhene nane Sal gyfte na ȝet ocre be tane 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 34.
The cunande als of okyr sal nocht be kepyt 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 45.
I had … ane little portione of money … and did … resave sum gaines and filthie ocker therby 1573–4 Reg. Privy C. II. 329.
Okker 1575 Exch. R. XX. 210.
2 s. of certain okkir 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 61/12.
Nocht onlie to give money vpon land but also for ockre 1581-1623 James VI Poems II. 26/19.
Nor occoure makis of siluer fyne c1590 J. Stewart II. 258 § 232.
Occour 1594 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1898) Oct. meeting.
Quhas blude wes soucket oute be paying … the said grite excessive ocker and usurie 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 866. 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 427.
Some taking twentie poundis for the hunder, vthers threttie, & vther sik lyk execrable occres 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 58.
Forthe deir ockir that he tuk for the sillvir he borrovit

c. Comb. with money. — 1533 Gau 17/3.
That … wil notht len to [their neighbours] … in thair mister without okker mony