Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Ok(k)erar, Ockerar, -er, n. Also: ockirar, okkirar, okyrar, okkarar; ockarar, -air; occarar, occur(r)ar, -er, occourar, occrer, (octarer). [ME. (chiefly north.) okerer (Cursor M.), okrure, okyrere, okerar (Towneley Plays), thereafter appar. only Sc.] One who lends money at (more or less excessive) interest, a usurer. (Commonly referred to as a criminal or sinner.)(a) 1449 Acts II. 36/2.
Quhat persounis … byis vittale & haldis it til a derth … at thai be bot as okkiraris repute c1450 Cr. Deyng (S.T.S.) 105.
Matho the okyrar 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 83.
Okeraris quhar euer thai disses vntestyt or nocht al thar gudis ar the Kingis ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/1.
We cursis … all that ar commonde okkeraris kyde and knawynne c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 58.
Catyvis, wrechis and okkeraris [v.rr. ockeraris, okkararis] 1573–4 Reg. Privy C. II. 329. 1664 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 90.
Okerers(b) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1685.
He garis [the] occourar leif his gud in haist, And him [to] follow in gret powerte 1528 Lynd. Dreme 310.
Hurdaris of gold, and commoun occararis 1596–7 Melvill 400.
The manswering merchants and occurrars amangs the borrowes 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 191/722.
The treasoris gatherid by the paines … Of thaire forbearis occuraris [v.r. occurrars] 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xx.
Occrers 1699 Dunbar Social Life 31.
Under the certificating of being pursued as occurrers or userers(c) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 153.
Sum ockeraris, and geuin to auarice c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5728.
Ockararis 1551 Hamilton Cat. 97.
All usuraris and ockiraris synnis aganis this command that wil nocht len thair geir frelie 1587 Acts III. 451/1.
Ockarairis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireffe.
Ockerers 1627 Calderwood VII. 454.
He was an extraordinar octarer and tooke fiftie of the hundreth in the yeir 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 437. 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxiv. § ii. (1699) 119.
Whoever receives more annualrent then ten for each hundred shall be punished as ockerers or usurers