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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.

Pik-, Pyikar, -er, n. Also: pyk-, pic-, pyc- and -are, -air. [ME. and e.m.E. piker (1301), pyker (Piers Plowman), -are (Prompt. Parv.), obs. after c 1550. Also in the later Sc. dial. Cf. Pikker n.¹, Pekar n.] A thief, a robber; a petty thief, a pilferer.Also attrib. (or appositive) with -theif, and comb. as the second element of a compound in hen-pyker Hen n. 2 (2).(1) 1398–1400 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) 197.
Pro receptacione furium et pikaris 1411 Ib. (Sp. C.) I. 4.
Communis pikar et receptor 1432 Ayr B. Ct. 15 Dec.
Qwat man that settis his hous to ony pikaris he [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 203 (Asl.).
Sic pykaris lufis no licht 1502 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 368.
Picar 1506 Exch. R. XII. 704.
All thevis pikaris and sornaris that oppress the cuntre 1520 Stirling B. Rec. I. 5.
Pycaris 1520–1 Prestwick B. Rec. 49.
All pikaris & vnlachtfull nychtburis 1542 Linlithgow B. Ct. 17 April.
The assis findis Elin Crage and Cristen Ademson common pykaris and ordanis the prowest and balles to banes thame the bourgh 1547 Stirling B. Rec. I. 48.
Pikair 1555–6 Peebles B. Rec. I. 225.
The maister … that ressauis sic pykaris to be thair tennentis to pay … the skaithis and dampnages done be thame 1559 Old Dundee II. 363. 1572 Elgin Rec. I. 135.
Calling her vitche kairling pyker sprodach theif 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 566.
Anent the beidmen … that thai be not … drinkares cairters dysars theiffis or pykers 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 12.
Ane notorious pykair 1622 Perth Kirk S. MS. 2 May. 1629 Monteith Stewartrie Ct. 5 Nov.
Convict … as ane commoun pyker(b) 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 146 b.
Ane commond pyikar & theif 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 108.
Pyikers(2) c1500 Rowll Cursing 185 (B).
All pykaris of [M. that steilis] pultre Gais nocht to hevin 1555 Peebles B. Rec. I. 222.
Ane commoun pykare of kaill … apprehendit … takkand away tirvis 1562–3 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 14 Jan.
The inquest fyndis Henroy Redmond ane pykar & stelar of … nalis 1601 Paisley B. Rec. 245.
Anent pykars and steillars of corne peits kaill and foullis 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 30. 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II. 4.
Pykeres 1660 Old Ross-shire II. 47.
The severall pykeris & stealeris of honest mens guidis in the barronie 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 202.(3) 1552 Elgin Rec. I. 117.
Calling of Thomas Kar pykar theif