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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sornar, -er, n. Also: sornare, -air, -or, -our, sorrner, soirnar, -er, sor(r)oner, sornourer. [Sorn(e v.] A person who exacts free quarters and provisions by threats or force, as a means of livelihood.(a) 1449 Acts II 36/1.
For the away putting of sornaris ourlyaris & masterful beggaris 1455 Acts II 43/1.
Quhar euer sornouris be ourtane … that thai be deliueryt to the kingis schireffis and at thai … do law apone thame as apone a theif or reffar 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 101.
He … that bring[is] … a sornare … sal haf of ilk fyire [pr. fywe] house of the parischin that the … sornare … is takin in … a penny 1512 Reg. Great S. 798/2.
Omnes extravagantes le sornaris 1531 Bell. Boece I 61.
He ordanit certane exploratouris to remane in ilk schire, that thay micht serche sornaris [M. mysdoaris; L. fures] theiffis and reiffaris, and bring thaim to his lawis 1533 Boece 125.
Corbrede … punyst lymmaris and sornaris quhilkis infestit the rurale pepill a1538 Abell 64a.
At men fugitife bardis ydil men scurrouris sornouris and siclik suld be scurgit 1540 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 102.
Vagabounds, sorneris, and all vtheris havand na craft quhairvpoun thai may leiff a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 27/88.
Ydill lownis … And sornaris that ar sweir 1581–2 Reg. Privy C. III 457.
Notorius thevis and sorners of clannis 1585 Rep. Sir Rob. Menzies MSS 693.
Certane brokin men, sornaris of Lochquhaber 1585 Rep. Sir Rob. Menzies MSS 693.
Sornerris 1593 Acts IV 43/1.
Thevis lymmaris and sornaris … spair not to … wander … armeit with swerdis [etc.] 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 92.
Thevis, broken men, and sornaris of the Clan Chamroun 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 83b (Table).
Katheranes, that is, sorneris, sould be taken and may be lesomly slaine 1621 Misc. Maitl. C. III 43.
Sornair a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 36.
Sornors 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 328.
Sorrners(b) 1585 Acts III 379/2.
Notorious thevis … or soirneris of the saidis clannis of thevis 1587 Acts III 462/2.
Soirnaris 1604 Irving Dumbartonsh. II 236.
Thay convenit to thamselffis the Clancamrone, the Clananverich, and dyverse vtheris brokin men and soirneris 1624 Crim. Trials III 559.
The vagaboundis, soirneris, and commoun thevis, commonlie callit Egiptianes to pas furth of this kingdome 1634 Monteith Stewartry Ct. (31 July).
Convictes him as ane ydill vagabound and soirner and oppressour of ye kingis leiges(c) 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 250.
He would giue him land in the Highland, for gentlemen are appointed to watch and guard the country, and therefor ought to live upon the marches, skirts, and extremities thereof to keep of theeves and sorroners 1675 Forbes Baron Ct. 299.
No laborer … sall recett nor giue anie hadin to anj soroner nor idle persons nor non quo mack not travill for kaill and fyr but tacks and stealls 1699 Elgin Rec. I 361.
Soroners

b. ? One who depends on the charity of another, appar. without pejorative connotations, ? a supplicant. c1590 Thanes of Cawdor 196.
To foure gentil sorneris at your lordschipis command vj s. viij d.