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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.

Stelar, Steil(l)ar, n.¹ Also: stellar, steiller, -air, steal(l)er. [e.m.E. stealer (1538); Stel(e v.] A thief.(1) 14.. Acts I 380/2.
Off thaim that ar infames. … theffis and stellaris [etc.] c1460 Consail Vys Man 295.
Stelaris only thevis are nocht, Bot als at wald stell and thai mocht a1538 Abell 30b.
The maistir of the Kingis hundis myssit this growhund & folloit on the stelaris 1567 Dundee B. Laws 372.
Gif the said printeis beit funden ane pyker or stelar, he sall … be punisit 1574–5 Prestwick B. Rec. 75.
For the vrangus calling him ane ȝaid steiller 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. MS in Mill Mediæv. Plays 297.
That na vagabunds evill steilleris sturdy beggares nor idill persounis … remayne within this burght 1608 Crim. Trials II 552.
Quhither scho was repute ane pyker or steiller or no(2) 1503 Acts II 242/2.
Stelaris of bee hivis & distroyaris therof 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I 238/1.
He dredis that the stelaris of it [sc. a seal] or … resettaris thairof has fenȝeit and maid fals lettrez 1560–1 Inverness Rec. I 49.
Schow suld deliuer the stelaris of William McQueyne box gyf tha wer in cumpane with hyr the tyme the same wes stollyn 1562–3 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 14 Jan.
The inquest fyndis Henroy Redmond ane pykar & stelar 1594–5 Misc. Spald. C. II 128.
Ane commoun stelar of scheip(b) 1424 Acts II 7/2.
Steyllaris of fruyt … salbe punyst as is ordanyt of the steillaris of grene wode c1500 Rowll Cursing Title (B).
Heir followis the cursing of Sir Johine Rowlis Vpoun the steilaris of his fowlis c1500 Rowll Cursing 237 (B). 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 217.
The said assise … fand the said Thomas the thyftwys steillar of the saidis hors 1576 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 18b.
Gif ony man findis ony wayfe geir and knawis not the awner of the same That he … proclame it in the paroche kirk … And gif he dois not tobe repute and haldin steillar and theif of the geir 1597 Aberd. Council Lett. I 74.
Allegit pirattis & steillaris of a schip of Danskin furth of the herberr of Burntyland 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 45.
Steillairis and mellaris with the wrek guidis thairof 1607 S. Leith Rec. 4.
Robert Mitchell … being examined … gif he knew any wayes quha were the steillers away af the silver 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 591.
Thair is no restitutioun nor redres to be had for goodis bocht in ane oppin mercat, althoght the sellair of the goodis be the actuall steillair of the same 1619 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 99a (20 Oct.).
[He] promeissitt to preiff the said William ane steiller off his geir 1623 Crim. Trials III 553.
For gif the principall steiller thairof viz. Margaret Ahannay, war accuset [etc.] 1628 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire II 195.
Ane approwen theiff and steiller of craft's lether 1658 Musselburgh 115.
That the owner of the horse was come to challeng him as steiller and awaytaker thairof(c) 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 258.
Persouns suspect … of the crymes particularly underwrittin, viz., … maryers of twa wyffes, … stealers of beeskaips 1660 Old Ross-shire II 47.
The severall pykeris & stealeris of honest mens guidis 1675 Argyll Justic. Rec.I 67.
He … had the saids goods hidden in his posessione for the space of thrie or four nights untill tryall wes gott of his being stealler of the said goods(3) 14.. Acts I 342/1.
Grene wod stelaris 1558 Inverness Rec. I 23.
He sayd that the balyes of Innernes ganit bettyr to be schep stelaris nor balyes 1600 Paisley B. Rec. 232.
The act … anent peit steillars 1673 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 57.
[They] wes found to be comone peitt steillers