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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.

Ventour, -ur(e, -er, v. Also: ventor, wenter, -or. [Late ME and e.m.E. venter (Lydgate), venture (1548), aphetic f. Aventure v. Cf. also Aunter v. and Eventure v.]

1. tr. To risk (one's life, possessions, etc.) in some cause or purpose. Also reflex. and absol. b. To hazard, risk the export for sale of (a commodity). 1547 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III 32.
Jhone Muir of Rowallanne … wes willing to wenter his lyfe and all that wes with him, in the defence of the said maisteris lyfe 1608 Crim. Trials II 257.
Thair is na leving Christiane that wald nocht be content to revenge that Macheveliane massacrene of our deir freindis, ȝe, howbeit, it sould be to ventour and haizaird lyfe, landis, and all vther thingis 1615 Crim. Trials III 374.
He was cum to this cuntrie to venter his lyfe for the saiftie of saules that war in danger 1635 Fugitive Poetry II xi 3.
Its seimes thy soull has thought it good To venter moneyes, fleing saikles blood 1637 Baillie I 22.
The thesaurer, his guider … hes given the noblemen full assureance that he will venture all he hes before our reverend fathers get our sweet prince so farr abused as [etc.] 1685 Marchmont P. 30.
He urged, would wee see others venter lives for the religion and liberties of our country and ourselves ly by?reflex. 1572 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxviii 80.
For better it is to fecht it, defendant our lyfis, With speir men and weir men, and ventour our sellis, Nor for to se Frenchemen deflorand our wyfisabsol. 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 661.
They have purchast … richtis … aganes us … that we sall by no goodes or geir belonging … to the liegis or strangeris that wenters thair lyves out off any pryses or men off war … quhairby … the … benefite quhich they hardlie venter for may be turned … to ane monopole for thair privatt usesb. 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 106.
Venturit in the said schip tua daikeris of hydis 1597 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 110.
I have ventorit with Johne Ogiluy xxv peces on pledding etc. to Flanderis

2. intr. To dare to go, travel, proceed. Also fig. b. To dare to do something. Also tr. 1570 Sat. P. xxiii 78.
Ay venturand quhair greitest war the dangeris, For to set furth the word of God most cleir, And for to freith thy natiue realme fra strangeris 1596 Dalr. II 86/11.
The Duke of Sommerset is ernest vpon the king to gar him pas to Ingland … lat him preiue at hame and nocht ly hid amang strangers: to venture he may haue honour; to ly hidd as he la, dishonestie 1629 Annandale Corr. 282.
For this bearer Dryffe, there is nothing to be doun butt that he do not venter, as I am alwayes affrayd they will be nibling 1746 J. Row Sermon 8.
When ye come to a foord, the jackman must venter over first upon his weak weary naig 1684 Dunkeld Presb. 364.
[Rattray excused himself … on the ground that] he was so infirm and sickly that he could not ventur so far from hom 1685 Marchmont P. 60.
The enemy would take some time to draw up, and certainly not venter on the hils and mosses, to persue, till the next dayfig. c1600 Montg. Suppl. vi 10.
Ȝitt will ane wys man weill be war, And will nott wenter butt adwys 1638 Johnston Diary I 374.
I … was incouraged to venter on the drauing up of som reasons against the prælimitation of assemblee 1638 Fam. Rose 324.
God willing, they shall find you hard inough, and not tender, quhenever they shall venter on youb. 1600-1610 Melvill 434.
Na minister will venture to com amangs us 1640 Baillie I 243.
The question of the King's authoritie … I am not so seene into it as I durst ventour to wryte of that subject 1662 Stirlings of Keir 498.
When yea ar convolesed that you doe wentor to travell 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 32.
To determine he dare venture, The sum to be the world's centertr. 1609 Crim. Trials III 14.
I doutt nott bott, or now, your lordship hes hard of my braiking of ward; and the only caus quhilk maid me ventour the same, quhilk, as God knawis, was for no vther caus bott only for the saifte of my lyfe