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 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Trafficquar, -er, n. Also: traffi(c)quair, -icquear, -iccer, -ictar, -i(c)kar, -icker, -ecquar, -e(c)quer, -ectar, -er, -or, -eckar, -er, (traffrequer); trafiquar, -i(c)quer, -icker, (trafiquiker, trafickegryter), trafecquer, -ec(k)quer, -ectar, -er, -e(c)ker, traifficar, trifficquer. [17th c. Eng. trafficker (1615).]

1. A trader, merchant or dealer.Also in collocation with unfremen, traders not belonging to the merchant guild, merchandis and gentlemen members of the guild and persons of consequence.(a) 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III 96.
The gret hurt and skaith sustenit be the fremen … be vnfremen traffecteris 1565 Reg. Privy S. V i 665/1.
The said Maister Johnne is na traffictar with marchandice 1568 Misc. Maitl. C. II 314.
That na … baxter nor na wthir traffikar being suspectit of the pest … use na change traffik nor ontred … for the space of fourtie dayis efter 1574 Conv. Burghs I 35.
Ane fre merchand, trafiquar of merchandice 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 327.
Trafficquers 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 220.
Traffiquer 1582 Conv. Burghs I 133.
Traffecquaris 1590 Crail B. Ct. 5 Oct.
Traffecqueris merchantis and handilleris may hawe … chosin to thame ane deane of gild for ourseing off materis concerning thair estait 1592 Acts III 579/1.
The … carreing furth of the realme off the calf skynnis … be merchantis and traffiqueris of this cuntrie 1592 Conv. Burghs I 386.
For the leittis of the bailleis … to be eikit to thame sax of the saidis mercheandis traffectaris 1592 Edinb. B. Rec. V 69.
The traffiquers furth of the realme 1594 Reg. Privy C. V 196.
The saidis spuilyearis to be na merchandis nor trafficquaris with sic guidis 1595 Irvine Mun. II 33.
Trafficqueares 1595–6 Crim. Trials I ii 354.
Trafficquaris in vtheris cuntreyis … to … bring hame corslettis [etc.] … sell and mak penny thairof to all his hienes subiectis, vpoun ressounable pryceis 1608 Irvine Mun. II 47.
Trafiquikeris 1610 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 72.
Traffickar 1622 Conv. Burghs III 126.
The grit hurt sustenit be the haill merchand trafficquers with fisches 1625 Linlithgow B. Rec. 20 May.
Traffickeris 1632 Banff Ann. I 68.
Ye sall hyid nor conceall no wnfrie trafecteris geir 1640 S. Leith Rec. 32/1.
Trafickers 1653 Edinb. Test. Index II 156.
Robert Gilchryst, merchant-trafficker in Barbados 1654 S. Leith Rec. 99/2.
That the gentlemen and trafecquers sould have the bounds in the east end of the church … to build tharupon ten single pews 1655 South Leith Kirk S. in Soc. Ant. I 164.
The contraversie betwixt the skipperis and the gentlemen trafeckquers 1656 Conv. Burghs III 423.
That thos who are vintineris of wyn who buyes ane twne or twnes of wyne in great … be estemed as merchandis traficquers 1658 Lanark B. Rec. 168.
Trafickegryters 1670 Banff Ann. I 150.
Traffeckars 1671 Edinb. B. Rec. X 112.
Trafeckers 1672 Edinb. B. Rec. X 130.
Only merchands and actuall trafficcers and inhabitants [are] to be … elected to the offices of magistracie within burgh(b) 1580 Inverness Rec. I 287.
Traifficaris

b. In opprobrious use. 1594–5 Reg. Privy C. V 217.
Forgearis … and outputtaris of fals … money [ … that Andro Kanyeauch … ] wes ane speciall trafficquair in that unlauchfull … trade

2. An intermediary, go-between or negotiator, chiefly or only one who engages in clandestine dealings or has dealings with an enemy; an intriguer or schemer; passing into a proselytiser for the Catholic religion.(a) 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 384.
Thome Bischop wes the first trafficquar betuix the bischop of Ros and the said Johnne 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 377.
That nane of the personis knawin favourars, weilwillaris and trafficquers with the saidis erlis, … or with thair familiar servandis, or be utheris mediat personis sall repair unto his hienes presence 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI 146.
The Dweike of Gwyse is trafeker werye feste to brynge the kynge in France 1586 Cal. Sc. P. VIII 405.
All wer leis … quhar he wes alledgit for to be a trafiquer, for he hes bein with none of the hous of Guise thir twentie yeirs 1587 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 715.
Practisers and traffiquers aganis the true religioun … entertained, to bring to pas their most dangerous devices and comploits 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 250.
Agnes Somervall … ane commoune trafficquar with wichis 1594 Aberd. B. Rec. II 91.
Thrie strangearis quha ar suspect to be papistis and traffiqueris 1594 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 829.
Traffiquers with the Spainȝeards 1596 St. A. Kirk S. lxii.
[To intimate the excommunication of the lords, and] to try within thair boindis quha ar traffectoris and moyeneris for them 1600-1610 Melvill 156.
The Pape's trafectars at ham 1603 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 192.
Trafficquearis 1609 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. I 2.
Traffiquair c1625 Misc. Spald. C. II liv.
Traffequer a1650 Row 105.
The fier of Fintray, a great traffiquer aganis religion and reformation a1651 Calderwood VII 443.
Father Andersone, a traffecker amongst the Papists of this countrie 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. xxxi.
He … is such trafecter that fiew or no Protestants that become his tenants, or servants, escape without being perverted by him 1700 Highland P. III 56.
Traffrequer 1685 Nimmo Narr. 76.
Mr. Hoge … was jelousd for a spay or traffecker for Munmoth(b) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 322.
Whair thai alledge that I sould haue bene ane trifficquer with England, I praise God I had neuer trifficquene with thame