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

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

Stremar, n. Also: stremer, -our, streimer, streame(a)r, stramar, -er. [ME and e.m.E. stremere (1292), -er (1295), -our (a1400), streamer (1594); Strem(e n.]

1. A flag that streams in the air; specif., a long, narrow banner or pennant, chiefly as flown from the mast of a ship. Also, streamear of weir.(1) 1504–5 Treas. Acc. III 89.
Item, iij^clxv elne Flemys, ilk ^cv^xx, of frenȝeis to the said stremaris 1506 Treas. Acc. III 89.
Payit Thomas Edȝair, tailȝour, for making of thre stremaris for the schip, of the say send hame be Jerome Friscobald, iij li. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1024.
Down schuke the stremaris frome the topcastell 1531 Bell. Boece II 37.
Knichtis schining in armour … trumpattis sounding and … goldin stremaris reflixand aganis the sonne 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 310.
To be stremaris to the kingis schippis, ix score elnis reid and ȝallow sey 1588 Soc. Ant. IV 426.
At Montros … I saw ane very proper schip … thar vantis nother ordanance, ensignys … nor stremars 1590 Mill Mediæv. Plays 199.
For putting vp the stremaris vpone the stepill the day of hir maiestieis entres(b) 15.. Clar. i 30.
Ane courtche of plesance, of gold all browderit bricht, Quhilk waifit lyke ane streimer castine licht(c) 1587-99 Hume 158/54.
A fair navie of shippes, of gallies, and of galliasses, all vnder saill on the smooth sea, with their streamers, flaggs, aires, and great artillerie(d) 1513 Doug. i iv 46 (Ruddim.).
Ony Troiane galay, bark or barge, Antheus, Capis, or Caicus stramaris [C. stremeris] large, Waiffand or schewand fra thare top on hicht 1537 Treas. Acc. VI 465.
George Home to ryid to Rowane with Capitane Lundy to by strameris to the kingis schippis 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 189.
Deliverit to Johnne Bartane till be fanikynnys, ansenȝeis, stramaris and banaris to the said bark; … reid and ȝallow and quhite taffiteis of cord(2) 1589–90 Reg. Privy C. IV 469.
Streamearis of weir of reid taffetty

2. A heavenly body emitting light.Here, appar. referring to the sun and Venus, the morning star. 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 21.
The twynklyng stremouris of the orient Sched purpour sprayngis with gold and asure ment

3. Put for Strem(e n. 4: A copious flow (of blood). 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 149/336.
[He] uith … his bleade Doth steadfast makke his lyfe to pairt in gushing streameris [1591 streames and] read