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

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

Undertaker, n. Also: undertakere, -takare, undirtakar. [ME and e.m.E. undertakere, vndirtakere (both Wyclif), undertaker (c1400).]

1. One who gives aid or support; a helper, supporter. a1578 Pitsc. II 253/19.
The Erle of Mortoune quha was principall vndertaker and counsallour to the regent

b. transf. Of Christ.With admixture of sense 2. a1652 Dickson Psalms (1653) I 11.
And as He is the promiser and undertaker to pay the price of the redemption of his People; so also is He the receiver of promises, made in favour of His Church and Kingdome 1653 Binning Wks. (1841) 646.
He died as a cautioner and undertaker for us 1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith (1743) 67.
If believers have not Christ for their undertaker to bring them to glory, to interceed for them

2. One who undertakes a task, or accepts a responsibility. Also const. of (the task, etc.). 1456 Hay II 13/29.
A man … is … mare enclynit [sc. than a woman] tobe tempit to vice … for he is mare hardy undertakare bathe in gude and evill c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxi 87.
Schir Johne Kirkepakar, Off many cures ane michtie vndertaker 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. III 19.
Charge aganis the undirtakaris of the service aganis the Clangregour 1659 Rothesay B. Rec. 30.
Adam Stewart who was principall undertaker of the said custome dews for the said yeir of God 1619 Thanes of Cawdor 250.
He had no uther designe … bot onlie … to mowe yow to draw in Inglische men to Illa boithe for the fisching and leid myneis thair … He wald not drawe you to charges quhill he had bespokine sum undertakeris in that particular c1679 Kirkton Hist. 219.
This Mr. Welsh was a godly, meek, humble man, and a good popular preacher; but the boldest undertaker that ever I heard a minister in Christ's church … he maintained his difficult post of preaching upon the mountains of Scotland … for near 20 years time

3. specif. One who undertakes to colonise and develop a parcel of land in a new colony or settlement; a colonial settler, a ‘planter’. 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 792, 793.
I find in the roll of the Englishe undertakeris [sc. of the Plantation of Ulster] … that there is some xxviii or xxx unto whome tuo thousand aikeris ar allotted … my Lord Thesaurer … declaired his majesties intentioun to haif the lyik nowmer of names of the Scottis natioun to be undertakeris 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 793.
In the articles imprented it is sett doun that the undertaker for 2000 aikeris sall builde a castle of stone. Becaus the worde of a castle may effraye our people, I moved it in the counsell … what wes meaned by a castle; and it wes there declaired that nothing wes meanit thereby bot any litill toure or peill such as are commoun in our Bordouris 1625 Insh Colonial Schemes 96.
Encovragements for such as shall have intention to bee vnder-takers in the new plantation of Cape Briton, now New Galloway in America by mee Lochinvar 1625 Insh Colonial Schemes 97.
[In return for thair free passage Lochinvar would be] contented to receive from euerie one of the said undertakers, the thirteenthe parte of that increase and commoditie which their lands shall have made worthie unto them in the said plantation [but] each undertaker of the plantation of New Galloway shall bee free from the payment of any duetie for his landes, for … the first three yeares a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 466, 467.
The King having resolved to plant Lowland-men in the Isles, … the undertakers were Patrick, Abbot of Lendors [etc.] … The undertakers thinking themselves now secured, began to build, and made a partition of lands 1684 Lauder Notices Affairs II 550.
Ther is a great meeting of the proprietars of the New-Eist-Jersey plantation, wher the Earle of Perth, chancelor, is a main undertaker 16… Highland P. II 270.
The undertakeres did purchase from the king a gift of the Lewes the yeare of God 1599 or therabouts which then was aledged to be at his Majesties disposision