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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Sangstar(e, Songster, n. Also: sangster, -air; sangistar, -er, sangaster. [North-east midl. ME sangester (Manning), ME and e.m.E. songster (Wyclif), OE sangestre, -ystre a female singer.] A person who sings, a singer, freq. a professional singer. See also Plain sangstar n. Also as a surname. 1452–3 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 273.
Jacobo Sankstar [charter witness] 1486 Ib. II 300.
Frater Andreas Sancster(a) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 78.
With al delytis and plesans of women sangstaris and othir delytis 1489 Aberd. B. Rec. in Misc. Spald. C. V 30.
The aldirman, ballieis, consale and communitie … promittit to gif Robert Huchonsone, sangstar and master of the organis, alsmekile fee as thai gaf him this ȝer bigan 1489 Treas. Acc. I 114.
To Wilȝeam sangstare of Lythqow for a sang bwke he brocht to the king 1496 Aberd. B. Rec. in Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 339.
Our continuale familiar seruitor Robert Huchosone sangstar … to singe … mes … and ale other hours and divine seruice 1501 Treas. Acc. II 127.
Sangstair 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. in Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 347.
Thare perpetuale chaplanreis … salbe gevin … tile sangstaris that can syng plane sang ande prik sang 1519 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 8 (5 Oct.).
In the meyn tyme to sing & saye in the qweyr amang the laiff of the sangstars 1531 Bell. Boece II 20.
Fidlaris, sangstaris and siclik men of vile reputation 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 103.
For tua new keyis to the sangstaris chalmer durris 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 92.
George Cultis, sangster 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 35.
Missall, ane of the quens gracis sangstaris 1573 Ayr Chart. 109.
To the sangstar that takis up the psalmes befoir and eftir the precheing 1574 Acts III 87/2.
All menstrallis sangstaris and taill tellaris not avowit in speciall seruice be sum of the lordis of parliament … salbe … pvneist as strang beggaris and vagaboundis 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 124.
To the violeris and sangsteris at the kingis entrie … the sovme of thre pundis for thair dayes wages 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 874.
Ane great number of idle persons without lawfull calling, as pypers, fidlers, sangstars, sorners, pleasants 1608 Kinghorn Kirk S. 10.
Gif ewer he be fund heirefter ryoting and intertening ane number of pypers and uthir sangsters, to pay [etc.] 1612 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 78.
[Not to] giwe ony meatt or drink to these sangsteris [sc. singers of New Year songs] or lat thame within thair houss 1616 in Calderwood VII 225.
That the minister give up the names of idle sangsters [Bk. Univ. Kirk III 1121 songsters] and minstrellers within the paroche, to the end they may be called and punished as idle vagabounds 1620 Grant Chart. 326.
To the sangster Gowdie … xij s.(b) 1490 Aberd. B. Rec. in Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 338.
The said William sal present ane sufficient cheplain that be ane sangaster and chorist 1505 Ib. 343.
The … Counsale … hyrit and feit Wat Strathin sangaster to syng and help to hold dyvin seruice within the said kirk 1516 Treas. Acc. V 85.
Sangistar 1537 Ayr B. Acc. 27. 1561 Treas. Acc. XI 85.
Sangister 1562 Ib. 164.
Blak stamyng to be hois to nyne pagis and ane sangistar 1568 Crail B. Ct. MS 1 June.
To pay tham xvij s. for the sangistaris that luigit in thair hous

b. Also applied to a bird. 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Oscen, qui ore canit, a sangster; a singing foule shewing things to come

c. transf. A poet. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 23/93.
That made that Homer, who a songster bene, Albeit a beggar Ib. 35/307.
But thou my deir one … The great gods holy songster had receiued