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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.

Ostlar(e, -er(e, n. Also: -air(e, -eir; oist-, oystlar(e, -er, -air; oastler; oustler; oslar, -er, oislar, -er. [Late ME. and e.m.E. ostler(e (15th c.), oastler (1630), syncopated form of Ostillar n. Cf. Hostlar n.]

1. A host, one who entertains a guest. 1 Hostlar n. = . c1420 Wynt. i. 1640 (C, W).
The gest … Micht noucht be sickyr of his ostlare Ib. ii. 994 (R).
Fellown ostlare [E.² Ane felloun ostillair]

2. A keeper of a hostelry, an innkeeper. = Hostlar n. 2.Also attrib. with -wyfe, and in Ostlar-hous(e n. (and oisleris hous).(1) 1398–1400 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) 88.
Stephanus ostler Ib. 96.
Joneta ostler a1500 Henr. Orph. 520 (B).
Ostlaire c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke x. 35.
Ostlare a1540 Freiris Berw. 51 (M).
So winnit thair ane wounder gay ostleir 1569 Lanark B. Rec. 44.
That the aill quhilk ilk ostlar takis four d. for be worth the soum 1597 Paisley B. Rec. 202.
Ostlers c1650 Spalding I. 28.
Who wes ane ostlar 1650 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire I. 451.
The ostler's wyf scharplie rebukit for selling aill upon the Sabbath day [etc.] 1698 Sc. Hist. Rev. X. 120.
She being ane ostlere(b) 1562–3 Treas. Acc. XI. 253.
Oistlaris 1572 Peebles B. Rec. 339. 1573–4 Reg. Privy C. II. 338.
Oistlairis 1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 42.
That nane within the burgh alsueill oistlaris as vtheris hald … ony wyne or aill mesour except [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 343/33.
He … payit the oistler of the lwdging thairfoir 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 218. 1588 Douglas of Morton 727.
[Janet Fergussoun] oistler 1608 Stirling B. Rec. I. 120.
Oystlare 1661 Rothesay B. Rec. 66.
All the brewaris and oistlaris to bring in thair stopes(c) 1642 Elgin Rec. II. 242.
That no oastler sould sell aill one the Sabbath(d) 1573 Inverness Rec. I. 232.
To tak ordour wyth the commoun oslaris 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 579.
Oslaris 1649 McNaught Kilmaurs 244.
Ilk oslar ordaned to have stabling for four men and horse with meat and drink 1682 Melrose Reg. Rec. III. 50.
Johne Meine, osler(2) attrib. 1612 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 114.
The poindis tane fra ostlar wyffis 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II. 101.
To defray thair chairgis to the oustler wyfeis 1650 Kingarth Par. Rec. 25.
The Session ordaines that no oslerwife … shall sell any drink or suffer any sitt at table vpon the Saboth day(3) 1604 Crim. Trials II. 441.
The slauchter of Robert Currie … at the oisleris-hous in the Lwn

b. A stableman, an ostler. = Hostlar n. 2 b. a1500 Sir Eger 1437.
The ostler saw him bown to fare, Saddled his horse and made him yare Ib. 1679.
To the ostler said the host, Dress well the steeds, spare not for cost