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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Sym(o)leir, Summeleir, Soml(i)er, Semlier, n. Also: symmular, symmole(i)r, symleir, -ier, -eyer, -iar, sim(i)leir, symbla(i)r, -er, sumleir, -ier, -eyr, -yer, -are, sumiller, summoleir, (sumnoleir), summalier, summler, sumbeleir, sumblair, somlar, semlar. [e.m.E. sommelier (once, 1543), OF soumelier, sommel(l)ier (c1175, c1250 and 14th c. in Larousse).] An officer of the royal household responsible for selecting and supplying wine. Also the office of sumlare, symmoler of wynis.(1) 1562 Treas. Acc. XI 190.
To Johnne Boymoind symmular and Nicholace Boindreid, maister cuik 1565 Edinb. Old Acc. I 57.
Symliar 1575 Treas. Acc. XIII 80.
Alexander Dowglas, simileir, and Alexander Nesbet, paniteir, his grace domestik servitouris 1577–8 Reg. Privy C. II 662.
All and sindry wynis arryvit … in quhatsumevir portis of this realme … to remane under arreistment, unbrokin bowke within schip burde, quhill the same be sichtit, tastit, and waillit be his Hienes symleir 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III 116.
[He had] directit Jeremy Bowie, simleir, with letters of commissioun for visiting, taisting, and uptaking of wynis 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 248.
That none of the saidis wynis sould be disponit upoun or transportit unto the tyme our Soverane Lordis symmoleiris wer first staikit of the best thairof 1581–2 Reg. Privy C. III 451.
Symliers 1581 Reg. Privy S. VIII 53/1.
[To Jerome Bowy] symmoleir [to the King] 1586 Conv. Burghs I 225.
Sall ȝeirlie delyuer thretty twnis of … wyne … at the chois and contentment of his Maiesties symblaris 1586 Conv. Burghs I 225.
Symbleris 1594 Reg. Privy C. V 144. 1597 Edinb. Test. Index I 33.
Symblair 1598 Reg. Privy C. V 496.
[The provost and bailies of all the said burghs to fortify and assist the] symleyer [in execution of the premisses,] and, giff neid be, to mak oppin and patent durris, and to use his Hienes keyis to that effect(b) 1559 Reg. Privy S. MS XXX 41.
Ane lettre maid to George Fouris … makand him oure soueranes summoleir wardar and vptakar of wynis cumand in at the portis and havynnis of Leith [etc.] 1562–3 Edinb. Old Acc. II 169.
William Hendersoun, sumlier, servand to the Quenis Maiestie 1563 Exch. R. XIX 238.
Sumleir 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III 178.
Maister Lwes, sumbeleir to the Quenis Maiestie 1565 Aberd. B. Rec. MS (Jam.).
William Grysse sumleyr to … the king & quenis maiesteis 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 451.
Summeleir 1571 Cal. Sc. P. III 691.
Summler 1581 Reg. Privy S. VIII 89/2.
Sumnoleir 1581–2 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 232.
The wynes tane fra the nichtbouris be the Kingis Grace sumlieris 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 283.
Jhonn Thomesoun in Sanct Androis … to … delyuer to Jerome Bowie, sumlier to the Kings Maiestie, twa twnis of wyne 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 372, 373.
James Nicoll, bailyie, to pas with the Kings Maiesteis sumleiris to the schips, selleris, howssis [etc.] … within the town of Leyth … quhair any new Burdealx wyne may be had, and thair to caus the said sumlyer to be thankfully and reddily ansuerit of the best sorts thairof to his Maiesteis vse 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 373.
Als, the said sumlyer gevand his handwritt that he sall resaue na vther wynes fra ony of the townis of Dundie, Perth or Abirdene 1584 Reg. Privy S. VIII 451/2.
Summalier 1584 Reg. Privy S. VIII 453/2.
Sumblair 1584–5 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 390.
Ane generall precept direct … to the takkismen of his Hienes customes … commanding thame to ansuer Jerome Bowie, sumlyer, of all wynes that he sall desyre to the Kings Maiesteis vse, and that the sam sall be allowet in the dewtie of the said customes 1566 Exch. R. XIX 335.
Sumilleris(c) 1582 Conv. Burghs I 147.
The pure merchantis fra quhome … thair wynis hes bene taikin … be ȝoure comptrollaris semlaris and vtheris ȝoure Hienes officiaris 1587 Exch. R. XXI 623.
I, Hierome Bowie, semlier to the kingis majestie … grants me to haif ressavit … foure scoir ten [tunis] Burdeaulx wyne(d) 1582 Conv. Burghs I 155.
To mak paymentt … to the Kingis Maiestie his Hienes comptroller and somlaris of the sovme of four thowsand pundis and thretty tunnis full Burdealx wynis 1582 Conv. Burghs I 160.
Gif ony mair wynis beis resauitt be his Maiesties somlieris, masteris af houshald [etc.] … nor extendis to thretty tunnis, the samyn salbe ȝeirlie defalkitt to the saidis takismen 1582–3 Exch. R. XXI 563.
Threttie tunnis full Burdehous wyne … at the cheis and contentment of his hienes somleris 1583 Conv. Burghs I 182.
Sindry merchantis quha hes aduancit to Jheromy Bowy somlier to his Hienes behuiff certan wynis quhairof they as ȝitt are nocht satefeitt(2) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 395.
[The king] directed … Sarjand Bowy, his symmoler of wynis, with a ship furneist therwith, to lay in the cavys of his palicis at Halyruidhous and uther partis of his resort(3) 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 73.
Thomas Lindesay … hes procurit at the Kingis Maiesteis handis ane gyft of the office of sumlare and vptaking of wynis to his Hienes hous

b. ? A merchant responsible for supplying wine to taverners, etc.; ? a wine importer. 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V 260.
[The council] electis … James Carmure, merchand, sumlyer for the wyne venteris of this burgh