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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.

Ster(e, Steir, n.³ Also: steer, stire. [ME and e.m.E. steor(e (c1290), stere (c1340), steer (Chaucer), OE stéor.] A bullock.(a) 1582 Grant Chart. 155.
Of steris of thre ȝeir auldis fyiftein, price of the pice xl s. and of tua ȝeir auld stoittis(b) 1607 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 98.
Tua blak hornit steiris 1626 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 288. 1631 Brechin Test. V 14.
Ane steir and ane koy of tua ȝeir auld 1643 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 21.
[£20 for] tua steiris [purchased at Whitsunday, 1641] 1697 Brabster Rental in Old-lore Misc. VIII ix 201.
A broun horned steir 6 yeir old 1697 Caithness Estate Rental in Old-lore Misc. VIII i 9.
A broun humbled ox steir, 4 yeir old, come Beltaine 1699 Black Bk. Kincardineshire 113.
The panel … said that one of them [sc. three cows] was his own; another he had niffered with his brother for a steer(c) 1697 Brabster Rental in Old-lore Misc. VIII ix 204.
Hierof two ky at 8 lbs., per peice a young cowe att 7 lbs., a stire att 4 lb. and a quoyacke att 2 lb. 13 s. 4 d.