Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Suto(u)r, Suito(u)r, Soyto(u)r, n. Also: sutowr, -ar, -er, -eor, -ea(i)r, -ire, swtar, -ur, swotar, suttar(e, -er, -ur, suitar, -er, suittar(e, -er, suiture, suytour, -ar, -er, suyttor, soytoure, -er, -ur, soyttour(e, soito(u)r, -ar, sowto(u)r, -er, sooter, seuter. [ME and e.m.E. syutor (c1290), suter(e (Wyclif), suytor (Trevisa), sutoure (?1402), suitour (1517), AF seutor, suitour, sut(i)er, -or (all OED); Sut(e n.¹]

1. One who owes suit, or is chosen to give suit (Sut(e n.¹ 1 and notes) in a sheriff or baron court, and who functions as a member of the court with various duties (see quots.) allotted to him in that regard, Also, sutar for (certain lands), and to enter, give, present, put a (person) sutar (for lands, etc.).For further examples see Acts XII Index, s.v. Suitor.‘In early times the suitors of court played an important part in the administration of justice. In the courts of barons and sheriffs and in the justice ayres they were of two classes,—those who were bound to give suit or suit and presence, and those who were entered by suitors of the first class to act on their behalf.' Bisset III 44.‘Under the feudal system all the suitors of the court were originally its doomsmen. The suitors, the body of the court, were the judices, though in practice their functions might be assigned to a jury … who, nevertheless, were held to give the verdict of the whole court. This verdict was pronounced through the mouth … of the dempster, who was himself one of the suitors of the court.' Fife Sheriff Ct. lxviii.(1) 1501–2 Acta Conc. III 137.
Adiugeit … in defalt of presence, and nonentiring of sutouris for the sammyn … landis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 4.
Great membres of court baith mair & les All is sutour to gif finall sentence c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 245.
[The sentence] Pronuncit be the sutouris eloquence, Than is dew time with materis to dispence … gif I pleis him to repell or luge [etc.] 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 578.
Sutearis 1569–70 Lanark B. Rec. 48.
The provest descharget Thom Makin to sit to be sutter in court in tymes cuming, and gef hie comperes and geves ony dome in ony actioun the samin sall be in na effect 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Actornatvs.
For he quha aucht baith sute, and presence in onie court, suld nocht onelie send ane sutour to decide actions and causes conforme to the law bot also suld compeir personally or send ane actornay 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Infensare.
Infensare curiam … the judge informis the suters in sik things quhairof they ar ignorant 1616 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 8.
The said day compeirit the barronis & friehaldars undir writin … and presentit the suteors eftir specifeit quha was admitit be the said shreffis as suteors for thame to the nixt Michelmes court; Viz. Alexr. Jaffray burges of Abd. suteor for Arthor Lord Forbes, … Wm. Blakhall maltman suteor for the Laird of Auchterllone 1616 Misc. Maitl. C. II 191.
The said shiref deput with consent of the haill gentlemen sutteris of court … ordaines the heid court to be and begin(b) 1509 Reg. Privy S. I 290/2.
With power to set, hald, efferm and begyn courtis, … sowtouris to mak be callit, absentis to falt [etc.] 1575 Conv. Burghs I 37.
For Hadingtoun, Dauid Forrest and Johnn Seytoun, [the sowter repudiat](c) c1575 Balfour Pract. 275, etc.
In the absence of the baron, the suitar may … without ony letteris of procuratorie, repledge men to the baronis court 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter (see Sut(e n.¹ e (1) pl.).
Suitures 1615 Misc. Maitl. C. II 179.
Suitteris(d) 14.. Acts I 6/2.
That na iustice schireff alderman na bailȝe of ony baroun sal sit at iugment to be done apon the folowyng … bot quhen sic caus cumis to iugment he sal pas furth of the court and the fre tenandis soytoris of the court sal mak iugment tharapon 14.. Acts I 343/2.
The maner of the justice ayr. Fyrst call the soytoure [? erron. for soytouris] [L. secte cum dominis earumdem] Syne rede the justice powere, Syne fens the courtis, than tak the dempstare ande gare him be suorne 14.. Acts I 343/2 (see Sut(e n.¹ 1 e (1) pl. (d)).
Soytoure 1464–5 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 60.
It was gifin for dome be the mouth of Johne Stodart soytour of Halden that [etc.] 1476 Acta Aud. 57/2.
The lordis … declaris that the dome gevin in the justis ayer of Edinburgh the xij day of Julij … be the moutht of Andro Blakfurd soytour for the landis of Lochorwirt for John of Douglas & Jonet of Rynd … wes evil gevin … And therfor ilk soytour of the said dome & thar lordis … is in ane amerciament of the court of parliament 1478 Acta Conc. I 8/1.
The saidis Johne, James [etc.] … has … wrangwisly procedit in the seruing of the said breif becaus thai war nocht sworne thaim self to the office, [sc. of sheriff] the tyme that thai made ther sergiand clerc and soytour [sc. in serving a brief] 1489 Prestwick B. Rec. 32.
The quhilk dai, Sande George and Cuthbert Myller ar chesing balȝeis; … Johne Smytht sergeand and George Symsoun soitor 1496–7 Prot. Bk. J. Young 196.
Thar was gevin a dome aganis … Sir Symon … apone the properte of … Hangandschaw … be the mouth of William Richartsone … soytour and dempstar of the said court c1500 Barounis Lawis 4a.
Than sall the seriand … gar ane soitour of the court dempe thame in ane vnlaw with the consent of his fallowis 1510 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) III 9.
The soitouris of the court of this justice aire of quham the namis ar contenit in ane roll 1513 Reg. Privy S. I 382/2.
He fyndand ane soytour for his landis, gif he aw ony, to do the king service in his justice-airis as efferis 1543–4 Reg. Privy S. III 87/2.
All husband landis of Litill Newtoun … and of ane land of the soitar of the samin toun 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Sok.
In the quhilks courtes, homines sui, or his vassalles suld giue soyt, and send for them, ane quha is called soytor, or sectator, a sequendo, because he suld follow the courte, in the quhilk he suld compeare. This office was verie profitable, for furthering of justice 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Sok.
Na judge aucht of law, or of reason, to accept ony man in court as soytour. Bot gif he can make sufficient and lauchfull reporte, of processe, doomes, judgemente [etc.] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 114b.
The judge aught to gar command ane soyter, that is ane able person, beand of gude fame, to giue that ilke dome, well informed be them all, as ane tongue of ane mouth 1622-6 Bisset I 280/10.
The iudge of the courte quha first pronunced the dome that wes to be falsed, and the soyttoure eftirwarde, advysedlie maid there ressones to mantene and defend there dome(2) 1517 Fife Sheriff Ct. 84.
Johnne Harelaw … was interit soytour for the landis of Fordale & lard of the samyn … and als admittit to the office of mairschipe 1536 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 185.
Gorge Car … enterit ane suttur callit Archbald Wallace in name and behaw of Dauid Somerwell of the Plane for his landis(3) 1502 Acta Conc. III 183.
Na porcionare … nor … tennent … within the availe of ten pundis … [is to] gif ony soyt or soytouris before ony schiref bailye or uthir officiaris in ony courtis(4) c1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 53.
Lettris to present suytouris and lettris of balyhery to ansuere and defend al the landis(5) 1436 Coll. Aberd. & B. 394.
Richarde the Hay … schew a letter of pouer of his moder … to put a soytur to the lordis of courte of Slanis … for the landis of Brogane 1501 Red Bk. Grandtully I 176*.
He wes vnlawit in our twa last justice airis … becaus he wald not put ane svitour for his saidis blanchferme landis and ȝe tend to poynd him thairfor 1501 Acta Conc. III 50.
The sade David fader put Wil Elder suitour in his court fra the landis of the Park

b. attrib. With fe, a fine paid in lieu of suit of court (Sut(e n.¹ 1 b (6). 1582–3 Ayr B. Acc. 35.
The sutor fe, xiij s. iiij d. 1601 Reg. Great S. 425/1.
Necnon 6 s. 8 d. pro sectis curie de Rescobie vulgo lie swotar-fie

2. An adherent, supporter, follower. 1628 Pastor and Prelate 66.
[The prelate] filleth the places of students without tryall of their ingines to pleasure his friends and suyters

3. a. One who seeks to buy (a commodity). b. One who requests or seeks to obtain (a benefit). Also const. of or for (the benefit) (also, to someone).a. 1561–2 Dumfries B. Ct. 41b.
It is statut … that all personis havand ale or vyne to sell or tap sell thair aill to all byars & suttaris thairof & deny it to na personb. (1) 1548 Cal. Sc. P. I 141.
This have I written unto you becaus honest hartis can not be inopertune suyttoris 1591 Cal. Sc. P. X 529.
The setting downe of the sayd ordour did greitlye satisfye a nombre of Scottismen that wer then present sutarris [sc. for help against pirates] 1596 Conv. Burghs I 495.
The samyn [sc. proposal] to ceis and stay quhill thai all in ane voce be suitteris and resoluit awysetlie thairanent 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 147.
His Heynes hes bene … preist be inoportune suteairis to mak present dispositioun of the forfaltouris … of the saidis personis 1600-1610 Melvill 794.
Upon … sute maid be any to be admittit to the ministerie … the ministerie of that boundes quhair he is to serve, to certifie be thair certificat to him, the pairtie suitter his conversatioune past, abilitie and qualificatioune for the functioune 1651 Strathbogie Presb. 194.
Mr. George … earnestly begged pardon of the Lord … and all that were present to be dayly suiteres before the throne to that effect — 1591 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 68.
Excuse my impatience in this. It is no wonder I wearie to be so long time sutire, as one who was not borne to be a beggar, but to be beggit at(2) 1572 Peebles B. Rec. I 343 (see Sut(e v. 10). 1575–6 Reg. Privy C. II 509.
Na sic licence [sc. for mining] salbe grantit unto thame except the personis suittaris thairof wilbe content to wirk … according to the … command of the said Abraham 1583 Conv. Burghs I 169.
To fynd cautioun to geve als mekill thairfoir [sc. the customs], and to be als ansuerabill to the burrowis, as ony vtheris sutaris thairof 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 570.
The said Erll can not proceid aganis thame for the said cryme be vertew of the said commissioun becaus he is the onlie sutar of the said commissioun c1610 Melville Mem. 304.
Gene any wer to be absented or send hame for a seasoun it suld not be done at the instance of any invyous sutter of his office or particulair party 1622-6 Bisset I 256/31.
Næ suspension … ar grantted … bot be … supplication of the pairtie suitter thereof 1663 Dunkeld Presb. I 126.
Noe brethren shall … marie any within ane other's congregatione without ane testimoniall … of the most famous elders wher the suiter of the … benefit of mariage duells(3) 1616 Haddington Corr. 133.
I am nather the slawest in doeing the litill service I can compass, nor too airnest a sooter for my awin benefit a1652 Dickson Psalms I 140.
The godly in their prayer are not selfish, nor suiters for singularities — 1565 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 58.
The nobilitie … to be humble suters at her Hienes for the executioun of the law and actis … agains violaters of the Sabboth day(4) 1542 Douglas Corr. 148.
Pleacit ȝour gude lordschip that we moist be sutouris unto ȝow for [etc.] 1559 Knox VI 43.
Yit can not we … cease to be suytaris unto your Grace … to have eie to this our present estate 1559 Knox VI 101.
I wrote unto you before to be suter to some faithfull, that they wold move such as have abundance to consider our estate 1592 Warrender P. (SHS) II 176.
Never to be a procurer or suitter for ease or pardone to onye of thame at his Majesties hand 1610 Crim. Trials III 505.
He did humblye … intreat ws to be suitters for the same to your sacred highnes, on his behalf 1622 Highland P. III 316.
And therfor I am to be ane humble sutter to his majestie that his majestie may be graciously pleasid in recompence off my seruice 1626 Aberd. Council Lett. I 246. 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 2.
Which persouns have beene humble suters unto us … to have thair esheats disponed unto thame gratis

c. One who seeks to obtain another's services, a petitioner for (another). Cf. Sut(e v. 5 and 5 b. 1640 Spalding II 493.
We might hawe Mr. Alexander Henderson to be our minister, if we wald be earnist suittares for him

d. One who petitions on another's (once, on his own) behalf; a supporter, advocate (for, also, to assist, another). 1545 Bk. Carlaverock II 27.
Whair ȝe wryte that I have bene ane sutour for his lordschip, treutht is I have been so 1545 Douglas Corr. 159.
To be ane swtur for me that I may haif my gere restorit 1584 Gowrie P. 26.
He could devise nor finde out none meeter to be suitors for him then the twoe were 1596–7 Edinb. B. Rec. V 178.
To pay to Jhonn Nesbett [blank] auchtein pund xj s. viij d. for his expenssis in ryding to Bervik for defence of James Nesbett, javellour, his suyter to ane day of trewis c1610 Melville Mem. 24.
He gat na reward, albeit I was a suter for him 1644 Acts VI i 73/1.
The convention of estates … have beene most carefull in provideing the cloathes and victuall promised as your commissioneris who have beene most earnest sowtoris for yow … can fullie informe yow — 1616 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 281.
I vald request to be ane seuter at lest to assist Sir Patrik heirin

e. One who seeks to procure (another's lands, the taking of another's life, etc.); an advocate or pleader for (of) (another's execution). 1571 Cal. Sc. P. III 693.
We sall to our letter hour burden our said sister and her counsalores … to be the sutears and takars of our lyfe by sic meanes as is used in our treatment to atteyne to the same 1585 Cal. Sc. P. VIII 141.
[One of Arran's own men that is] suiter [of Lord Russell's death] 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 264.
Bot finding these in it, who crewellie opprest the pure cuntrie, wes the onlie suitteris of my lyfe and landis

4. A petitioner or plaintiff in a lawsuit. 1615 Crim. Trials III 319.
And in cais of his not compeirance, ȝow sall thane expeid this present commissioune, and delyver it to the pairteis suttareis; and ȝou sall give wntill thame suche warrands [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I 132/21.
It wes statute, that … quhen ony pairtie seikis letteres … decreittis [etc.] … that the suittare declair in his bill and supplicatioun, the speciall heidis, quhilkis ar nocht fulfillit to him 1622-6 Bisset I 256/12.
[Albeit the suittare of suspensioun, compeirit at the geving of the decreit] or compeired nocht for sic ressonabill causis as the lordis sall think lauchfull

5. One who courts, woos or seeks (a woman) in marriage. 1563 Cal. Sc. P. II 75.
I dout not bot ye understand or now that our secretaree wyf is dead and he a suter to M. Flemyng, quha is als meit for hym [etc.] 1587 Warrender P. (SHS) II 41.
He suld labour to staye other suteris 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas iii 141.
Shall I with shame my former suters seeke? There sew for favour, there entreat for grace? 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 191.
Promising that he should give him his mother in mariage, unto whom the said John Mackean had been a suter