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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Proffer, Profer, v. Also: proffere, proffir, prophir, profor. Pres. t. also profferris, -and, proffris. P.t. and p.p. prof(f)er(r)it, -yt, -yd, -ed, -d; proffirit, profyrryt; proforit; proffert, profyrt; proffrit, -yd, -ed. [ME profre(n (c1290), proffre(n, profer(e (14th c.), north. ME proffer (c1400), e.m.E. propher (1471), prouffer (Caxton), proffer (Tindale), AN profrer (13th c. in Wartburg), OF proferir (14th c. in Tobler-Lommatzsch). Cf. also Peroffer v., and Approffer v.]

1. tr. To present or tender for acceptance or refusal, to offer (to another or const. dat. pron.). Also absol.With both material and non-material things as obj.(1) pres. 1456 Hay II 153/31.
And sen he profferis thé his gudis he puttis his lyf in thy will Ib. 153/37.
Thou sall geve … him be ane of thy speciale servandis, sum giftis, or rewardis proffer him Ib. 154/2. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 89 (A). 1490 Aberd. B. Rec. I 46.
The said Cristian sall cum … and proffer j lib. of wax in hir hand to the said Schir John 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1113.(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 483 (Ch. & M.).
Sum kissis me … sum kyndnes me proferis [M. profferris] 1539 Haddington B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 251.
Till caus thair officier till profer the horn till him that that office [of Abbot of Unreason] is layd on(c) 1486 Stirlings of Keir 256.
To prophir and gif thaim [sc. his foresaid lands] to the said Wylȝheme … befoir ony wdoris a1568 Mersar Bann. MS 213a/12.
And quhen thow maj prophir hir thy serwisp.t., p.p. ?1438 Alex. ii 3304.
Emynedus than … Fell doun on kneis … And proffered him his sword Ib. 5864.
And sindre syne to ilk barroun He profferd and presented the poun c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2758.
That thair was Profferit him ane lordschip and ane place Be Dare the king ȝoung Alexander to sla 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxv.
That quhar he ressavit twa obligatiouns deliverit to him be Alexander Lesly of Wardris and profferit thame to him in presens of the said lordis 1483 Acta Aud. *123/1.
Gif ony of the said wyne be lekkit sen the tym that the said Oliuer profferit the deliuerance therof to the said Bertilmo c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xxiii 36.
Proffirit 1557 Rec. Earld. Orkney 108.
Thome profferit the xx s. to his brother Villiam agane: the said Villiam refusit as he did before(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 331.
Proffred c1420 Wynt. viii 1229.
Wyth reverens He proffryd [W., C. perofferit] hym the crown c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts viii 18.
Proffrit(c) 1499 Halyb. 145.
Quhen he proforit hym the 20 li. g. for Schir Alexandir a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxv 1.
Vnto a freind I proferd once gud will(2) 14.. Acts I 362/2.
And he haf nocht a borgh til fynde bot profferis his fut in borgh c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 570.
Proferand mair gold na war resonabill 1483 Acta Aud. *122/1.
Pament profferit in blac mone 1490 Edinb. B. Rec. I 59.
That the thesaurer of the towne … proffer a goddis penny and bye the same [vittaillis or tymmer] vpoun a competent pryce ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 174 (M).
Syn ȝe war fane … To proffer mariage for peice 1527–8 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 94. 1535 Stewart 43176. 1557 Rec. Earld. Orkney 108. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1262 (E).
Suppose … That unrequyrd we proffert aid 1658 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 180.
[The barley] quhilk wase dew to have been payed … att the terme of Candlmese wase not proferrit till the Lambis therefter 1673 Red Bk. Grandtully I cxii.
I have sene … the security profered for that estate(3) absol. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 96 (A).
Giff ony burges has saulde land … & he had profferit [B. perofferyt it] to the nerrest of the frendis & thai haf nocht quhar of to by it

b. reflex. To offer oneself, make oneself available. ?a1450 Florimond 452.
Quhen that thow dreidis I sall nocht do The thing thow proferris thé vnto c1460 Thewis Wysmen 293.
Vysdom proferis hym til al men 1494 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 583.
I myn airis [etc.] … proffere ws to the ressate of the same sovme c1520-c1535 Nisbet Hebrews xii 7.
Proffris

c. To offer (battle). 1456 Hay I 165/24.
For and the King of Ingland come again the King of Fraunce, profferand him the bataill on a festuale day c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 1833.
That he the battall suld proffer me c1475 Wall. vii 1135.
Our mekill it is to proffer thaim battaill Apon a playne feild

d. To present, direct (a weapon) at (onto) another. 1513 Doug. vi iv 113.
Eneas … Hynt furth hys swerd … and … The drawin blaid he profferis thar and heir Onto tha monstreis, evir as thai drew neir [L. strictamque aciem venientibus offert]

e. To display towards or show (a person) (certain treatment). c1475 Wall. i 349.
He gat a blaw, thocht he war lad or lord, That profferyt him ony lychtlynes 1514–15 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxxix.
And thankis hys henes … of the grete enteyr luf and kyndnes profyrryt and schawyn to vs

f. With infin. or clause as obj.: To make an offer. 1476–7 Peebles B. Rec. I 179.
[He] sall warn his … sonis … or he mak ony alienation, proforand tham befor all other to haf the said alienation 1477 Ib. 182.
And he proforit his land and tenement to sell to the nerast of his awn kyn … sayand and proforand tham befor all other gyff thai wald redem that land

g. With a partitive const. as obj.: To offer (a person) (some) of something. 1456 Hay I 127/6.
And alssua gif he profferis me of his gudis to help him

2. a. To state willingness, make an offer, propose (to another) to do something. ?1438 Alex. ii 8400.
Quhen that I … Profferit to iust with sik ane knicht c1420 Wynt. vii 3057.
He profferyd [C. perofferit] wyth his body To put that [accusation] fra hym apertly Ib. viii 6705.
Proffere [C. proffir] 14.. Burgh Laws c. 96 (A).
Quhen he seis the lande weill biggit … he profferis & biddis to by that lande for als mekill to pay as [etc.] 1432 Haddington B. Rec. in Soc. Ant. II 388.
The qwhilk viii lib. the sayd William … profyrt to pay for the said land ?14.. Ship Laws c. 15 (Adv.).
& the tother proffer him … to mak him a mendis 1443 (1450) Reg. Great S. 86/2.
And gert present to the foure hede courtis … irde and stane and profferit that landis to sell for the payment of the foresaide some 1456 Hay I 48/26.
And syne come he … and profferit to trete with thame of pes 1463 Lennox Mun. 76.
For the quhilk to be done to me, I proffir to hald a hundir speris … dewly bodin for a ȝere 1477 Peebles B. Rec. I 182 (see 1 f above).
Proforit 1498 Acta Conc. II 224.
Profferrand 1557 Rec. Earld. Orkney 108.
Profferrit

b. reflex. = a prec. c. reflex. To address oneself, make a move (to go).b. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1893.
Than thai … rois aganis Pallamydes … And Pallamydes … Aganis thaim … Profferit him for to defend Aganis quhom evir [etc.] ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 194 (M).
I proffer me to preif on thé At [etc.]c. a1500 Rauf C. 147.
The king profferit him to gang, and maid ane strange fair