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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 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Schutar, -er, n. Also: schutare, -ur, shutair; schuttar, -er; schuit(t)ar, -er; schottar; shoter; shooter. [ME and e.m.E. ssetare (a1297), schotter (Cursor M.), shetere, shoter (both Chaucer), shewter (1586), shooter (1601); S(c)hute v. See also Scutarde n.]

1. One who shoots with a bow; an archer. Also, the Zodiacal constellation Sagittarius. 1456 Hay II 132/2.
Wynter begynnis quhen the sonne enteris in the signe that men callis Sagittarius, that is to say the bowman or the schutare 1499–1509 Exch. R. XI 394.
Gif thare be … within … forestis … schutaris Ib. 395. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. viii 6.
Let vs complein, with wofull ȝouts and ȝells, On shaft and shooter that our hairts hes slane

2. One who shoots with a firearm. 1565 Reg. Morton I 14.
Vnderstandynge of ane John Shawe … to be a common shoter we … charge you hereby to take the sayde Johne and send him to vs with his gune 1566–7 Reg. Privy S. V ii 254/2.
To … apprehend … all sic personis schuttaris with culweringis and huntaris and hald thame in firmance 1573 Digest Justiciary Proc. I 46.
The schutter being apprehendit … and lawfullie convict 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 117.
The schuter of the dag … suld remane in waird but relief 1587 Acts III 453/1.
The slayeris and schuittaris of hart hynd … and vtheris beistis without licence … of the awneris 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V 138.
After … accusing of William Sincler, scholer, … as schuitter of the said schott 1597 Acts IV 134/1.
The pane of beraris vsaris or schutaris [with pistolettes] culveringis daggis or ingynis of fyre wark 1598–9 Misc. Spald. C. V 71.
My Lord Huntleis justice court, appoyntit for calling and accusing of schuturis with gwnnis, and bering and wering thairoff 1599 Aberd. B. Rec. II 177.
Schuteris and havaris of pistollis 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 169.
Schuiteris 1602 Ib. 353.
[The magistrates of Biggar are] to try quha ar the schuitaris at wyld foullis 1612 Ib. IX 446.
A verie frequent … shutair with hagbutis and lang gunnis

3. One who hurls a missile. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 258.
Jacksone schottar of the fyre dartis wes ane at quhome thaj buir great hatrit 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 163/1.
It procedit … of plane raklesnes, procedand mair of the fact of the deid boy nor of the levand schuittar of the stane